Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

The MPhil in English and Applied Linguistics (2011/12)

Principles and Parameters approach to second language acquisition

Dr Teresa Parodi

This part of the course will begin with an introduction to issues in the Principles and Parameters framework which are directly related to language acquisition and learning. The aim is to present students with the major background notions in linguistic theory, viewed as a branch of cognitive psychology. The notions to be discussed include Language and Modularity, Innateness, Critical Period, and the notion of triggers for linguistic development. Students will then be introduced to models of first language acquisition within the Principles and Parameters approach. Evidence from lexical/morphological and syntactic development put forward for each of the models presented will be discussed. In addition, issues in bilingual first language acquisition will be addressed, followed by a comparison between empirical studies of child and adult language development. Theoretical approaches to L2 development and a number of studies focussing on syntactic aspects of second language learning will be introduced and discussed in the light of linguistic theory and cognitive psychology.

Reading for this course will include:

• Chomsky, N. 1986. Knowledge of Language; Its Nature, Origin and Use. Praeger.
• Ellis, R. 1994. The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Eubank, L., ed. 1991. Point Counterpoint: Universal Grammar in the Second Language. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
• Gass, S. and Schachter, J., eds. 1989. Linguistic Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Hawkins, R. 2001. Second Language Syntax: a Generative Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.
• Hoekstra, T. and Schwartz, B., eds. 1994. 'Language acquisition studies in generative grammar', LALD 8.
• Larsen-Freeman, D. and Long, M. 1991. An Introduction to Second Language Acquisition Research. London: Longman.
• Meisel, J. 1994. 'Bilingual first language acquisition: French and German grammatical development', LALD 7.
• Parodi, T. 2002. Language acquisition. In: Malmkjaer, K., ed. The Linguistics Encyclopedia. London: Routledge. 286-97.
• Ritchie, W. and Bhafia, T. eds. Handbook of Second Language Acquisition. San Diego: Academic Press.
• Roeper, T. and Williams, E. eds. 1989. Parameter-Setting. D. Reidel.
• Towell, R. and Hawkins, R. 1994. Approaches to Second Language Acquisition. Bristol: Longdunn Press.
• White, L. 2003. Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.