The topic of this term paper is from high relevance when it comes to the human mind in general, but it has a special importance for those who are trying to start a career as Second Language teachers because Chomsky’s Universal Grammar Theory influenced the whole field of linguistic studies and Language Acquisition tremendously. Future teachers need to be aware of these perceptions to be successful at teaching languages.
The beginning of this paper is therefore going to be discussing what Universal Grammar after Chomsky consists of in general and what it describes. This part is going to be functioning as an overview that will help to comprehend the following subchapter, which will be dealing with one part of Chomsky’s Government/ Binding Theory, the principles and parameters.
Thereafter, a discourse on First Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar is going to be portrayed, since Universal Grammar is usually linked to First Language Acquisition and will help to understand the coherence of the previously discussed matters of Universal Grammar.
The goal of these first few chapters is to create a transition to the main topic of the paper by providing some important background information of Chomsky’s studies and theories.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Universal Grammar
2.1 Universal Grammar in general
2.2 Government/ Binding Theory
2.2.1 Principles
2.2.2 Parameters
3. Universal Grammar and First Language Acquisition
4. Universal Grammar and Second Language Acquisition
4.1 Second Language Acquisition in general
4.2 No UG Hypothesis
4.3 No Transfer/ Full Access Hypothesis
4.4 Full Transfer/ Full Access Hypothesis
4.5 Partial Access Hypothesis
5. Conclusion
6. References
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the role of Noam Chomsky’s Universal Grammar (UG) theory in the context of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). It investigates whether the innate linguistic principles and parameters that guide first language development remain accessible to adult second language learners, evaluating various academic hypotheses regarding this transition.
- Foundational concepts of Universal Grammar, including Principles and Parameters.
- The relationship between Universal Grammar and First Language Acquisition.
- Mechanisms of Second Language Acquisition and the "States" metaphor.
- Evaluation of major hypotheses: No UG, No Transfer/Full Access, Full Transfer/Full Access, and Partial Access.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2.1 Principles
The Principles Chomsky established are laying down the fundamental features of all natural languages and their common grammatical rules (Saleemi 1992: 11). Based on how sentences are structured and how they move as explained before, it is easier to explain the concept of Chomsky’s Principles of Universal Grammar and how they are universal with the help of an example. The example that is going to be portrayed in detail is called the Locality Principle.
This principle states that there is a certain limitation to movements within a sentence (Cook/ Newson 2007: 36). “Movements have to be short” (ibid.) and if they are not short, they are not grammatically correct (ibid.). The same happens if elements are being moved outside of the part of the sentence they originally came from. The sentence then becomes ungrammatical (ibid.). Chomsky distinguishes between different kinds of movement phenomena which conform to the Locality Principle (ibid., 62-118). Some are going to be presented and illustrated through English examples in the following.
The first kind of movement which conforms to the Locality Principle is called the subject- auxiliary invasion (ibid., 37). The auxiliary is usually positioned behind the subject, but moves before it to form yes- no questions in English (ibid.). The first example will illustrate the invasion with one auxiliary.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Outlines the relevance of Chomsky’s theory for language teachers and establishes the transition from Universal Grammar to its application in second language contexts.
2. Universal Grammar: Defines the internal language faculty and discusses the fundamental aspects of the Government/Binding Theory, specifically principles and parameters.
2.1 Universal Grammar in general: Explores Chomsky's distinction between E-language and I-language and describes the innate nature of the language facility.
2.2 Government/ Binding Theory: Explains the structural basis of sentences as phrases that are broken down into smaller components, often represented via tree diagrams.
2.2.1 Principles: Details the Locality Principle through movement phenomena like subject-auxiliary inversion and Wh-movement across different languages.
2.2.2 Parameters: Investigates the Head Parameter, demonstrating how languages vary based on whether the head of a phrase is positioned before or after its complement.
3. Universal Grammar and First Language Acquisition: Discusses how language grows in the mind of a child through triggering stimuli and the progression of states from initial to steady states.
4. Universal Grammar and Second Language Acquisition: Introduces the challenges of L2 acquisition and evaluates how the extreme states of language change when applying the theory to adult learners.
4.1 Second Language Acquisition in general: Examines why L2 acquisition is generally perceived as a more difficult and less successful process compared to L1 acquisition.
4.2 No UG Hypothesis: Presents the view that Universal Grammar is exhausted after first language acquisition and is not involved in second language learning.
4.3 No Transfer/ Full Access Hypothesis: Argues that L2 learners have direct access to Universal Grammar, independent of their first language’s grammatical structures.
4.4 Full Transfer/ Full Access Hypothesis: Proposes that L2 acquisition begins with a copy of the L1 grammar which is then reorganized using Universal Grammar principles.
4.5 Partial Access Hypothesis: Discusses the view that L2 learners start with a "defective clone" of UG, potentially lacking functional categories or requiring re-parameterization.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the diverse hypotheses regarding SLA and calls for further research to resolve the evidence gap in the field.
6. References: Provides the academic foundation and literature cited throughout the study.
Keywords
Universal Grammar, Noam Chomsky, Second Language Acquisition, Linguistic Principles, Parameters, Government/Binding Theory, Locality Principle, First Language Acquisition, Language Faculty, Initial State, Steady State, Syntactic Characteristics, Head Parameter, Language Proficiency, Functional Categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines Noam Chomsky's Universal Grammar (UG) and its potential role and influence on the acquisition of a second language, contrasting this with first language acquisition.
What are the core pillars of Chomsky’s theory described here?
The core pillars are the concepts of Principles, which are universal features shared by all natural languages, and Parameters, which define the syntactical variability between them.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to determine the extent to which Universal Grammar remains accessible to second language learners and how this accessibility impacts the acquisition process across different proposed hypotheses.
Which scientific methodology is primarily applied?
The paper uses a theoretical and literature-based review approach, examining existing linguistic studies, grammatical experiments (such as grammaticality judgements), and developmental evidence to evaluate competing hypotheses.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of Universal Grammar, the comparison between L1 and L2 acquisition states, and a detailed analysis of four specific hypotheses regarding the L2 acquisition process.
Which keywords define this work?
Essential terms include Universal Grammar, Principles and Parameters, L2 acquisition, Locality Principle, Head Parameter, and the various access hypotheses.
How does the "Locality Principle" function in language?
The Locality Principle limits the distance that elements can move within a sentence; movements must be short to remain grammatically correct, a rule that appears consistent across multiple languages.
Why is the "Head Parameter" important for linguistic variation?
The Head Parameter explains how languages differ in the internal structure of phrases, specifically whether the "head" of a phrase precedes the complement (as in English) or follows it (as in Japanese).
What does the "No UG Hypothesis" suggest?
This hypothesis suggests that Universal Grammar is not involved in second language acquisition because the language faculty is essentially "used up" or already fully developed during L1 acquisition.
What is the "Failed Functional Features Hypothesis"?
It is a variation of the Partial Access Hypothesis, suggesting that L2 learners can only access Universal Grammar principles through their existing L1 grammar, leading to difficulties when the L1 lacks specific movement features.
- Quote paper
- Julia Niehaus (Author), 2018, Universal Grammar and Second Language Acquisition, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/541610
