Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

1

Language Acquisition and

Language Acquisition and

Universal Grammar

Universal Grammar

PD Dr. Pius ten Hacken

PD Dr. Pius ten Hacken

Two views of language

Two views of language

Language

Language

Language

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

2

Competence vs. Performance

Competence vs. Performance

Competence

Competence

knowledge of a

knowledge of a

particular speaker

particular speaker

embodied in the

embodied in the

mind/brain

mind/brain

(relatively)

(relatively)

systematic

systematic

Perform ance

Perform ance

utterance in a

utterance in a

particular situation

particular situation

acoustically

acoustically

perceptible

perceptible

subject to accidental

subject to accidental

and non-linguistic

and non-linguistic

constraints

constraints

Three views of language

Three views of language

Language

Language

Language

Language

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

3

I-language vs. E-language

I-language vs. E-language

I(nternal) language

I(nternal) language

knowledge of a

knowledge of a

particular speaker

particular speaker

embodied in the

embodied in the

mind/brain

mind/brain

(relatively)

(relatively)

systematic

systematic

E(xternal) language

E(xternal) language

abstract notion

abstract notion

set of gramm atical

set of gramm atical

sentences

sentences

individual speakers

individual speakers

have im perfect

have im perfect

knowledge of it

knowledge of it

Three views of language

Three views of language

Language

Language

Language

Language

Performance

Competence

I-language

E-language

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

4

The role of a grammar

The role of a grammar

A grammar describes a language.

A grammar describes a language.

Performance:

Performance:

–

–

highly irregular, what is an error?

highly irregular, what is an error?

Competence/I-language:

Competence/I-language:

–

–

mental state, how can we observe it?

mental state, how can we observe it?

E-language:

E-language:

–

–

abstract entity, how can we verify the

abstract entity, how can we verify the

description?

description?

What we observe in performance

What we observe in performance

Linguistic

Linguistic

Competence

Competence

Other

Other

Knowledge

Knowledge

Free Will

Free Will

Performance

Performance

Constraints

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

5

Observations of a mental state

Observations of a mental state

Linguistic

Linguistic

Competence

Competence

Observation

Observation

Constraints

Other Knowledge

Chomskyan linguistics

Chomskyan linguistics

explains

explains

tests

tests

Data

Data

is realized in

is realized in

Competence

Competence

describes

describes

Grammar

Grammar

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

6

The problem of choice

The problem of choice

For a particular set of data there are

For a particular set of data there are

indefinitely many different grammars.

indefinitely many different grammars.

At any point our set of data is finite.

At any point our set of data is finite.

We need a criterion to find the

We need a criterion to find the

real

real

grammar.

grammar.

Language acquisition

Language acquisition

Every human language can be acquired

Every human language can be acquired

by any human being.

by any human being.

The grammar acquired is not a direct

The grammar acquired is not a direct

reflection of the input data.

reflection of the input data.

–

–

simil arity of gramm ar despi te different

simil arity of gramm ar despi te different

experience

experience

–

–

knowledge about sentences and

knowledge about sentences and

constructions not in the experience

constructions not in the experience

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

7

Universal Grammar

Universal Grammar

Grammar

Grammar

Grammar

Grammar

Grammar

Competence

Competence

describes

describes

Competence

Competence

Competence

Competence

Competence

Grammar

Grammar

explains

explains

tests

tests

Universal

Universal

Grammar

Grammar

describes

describes

is realized in

is realized in

Language

Language

Faculty

Faculty

Chomskyan Linguistics

Chomskyan Linguistics

explains

explains

tests

tests

Language

Language

Faculty

Faculty

Universal

Universal

Grammar

Grammar

describes

describes

explains

explains

test

test

Data

Data

Competence

Competence

Grammar

Grammar

describes

describes

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

8

Optimizing Our UG

Optimizing Our UG

stronger theory:

more constraints

weaker theory:

more possibilities

description of

all languages

explanation
of language

acquisition

Language acquisition is supported

Language acquisition is supported

by the language faculty.

by the language faculty.

Language acquisition and the

Language acquisition and the

study of UG

study of UG

UG describes the initial state

UG describes the initial state

of the language faculty

of the language faculty

Every language

Every language

can be acquired.

can be acquired.

Investigate

Investigate

the process of

the process of

acquisition

acquisition

Investigate

Investigate

the variety of

the variety of

languages

languages

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

9

Logical vs. Practical Problems

Logical vs. Practical Problems

How is

How is

language

language

acquired?

acquired?

How can

How can

language be

language be

acquired?

acquired?

What kind of UG

What kind of UG

do we need to explain

do we need to explain

all languages?

all languages?

What is the role of

What is the role of

UG in the acquisition

UG in the acquisition

process?

process?

The Language Acquisition

The Language Acquisition

Process

Process

1. Growth

1. Growth

2. Input

2. Input

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

10

The Language Acquisition

The Language Acquisition

Process

Process

Language

Language

Faculty

Faculty

Language

Language

Faculty

Faculty

1. Growth: genetically determined

1. Growth: genetically determined

2. Input

2. Input

1. Growth: genetically determined

1. Growth: genetically determined

2. Input

2. Input

They knew that a washing machine needs electricity.

They knew that a washing machine needs electricity.

Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität braucht.

Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität braucht.

The Language Acquisition

The Language Acquisition

Process

Process

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

11

The Language Acquisition

The Language Acquisition

Process

Process

1. Growth: genetically determined

1. Growth: genetically determined

2. Input

2. Input

They knew that a washing machine

They knew that a washing machine

needs

needs

electricity.

electricity.

Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität braucht.

Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität braucht.

The Language Acquisition

The Language Acquisition

Process

Process

1. Growth: genetically determined

1. Growth: genetically determined

2. Input

2. Input

They knew that a washing machine

They knew that a washing machine

needs

needs

electricity.

electricity.

Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität

Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität

braucht

braucht

.

.

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

12

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

I nput

I nput

1. Growth: genetically determined

1. Growth: genetically determined

2. Input

2. Input

⇒

⇒

Parameter setting

Parameter setting

The Language Acquisition

The Language Acquisition

Process

Process

Parameter Setting

Parameter Setting

?

?

?

?

I nput

I nput

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

13

Subset Principle

Subset Principle

Data compatible
with but not

Procedure:

Procedure:

•

•

assumed

assumed

•

•

adopted when

adopted when

forced by input

forced by input

Data compatible

with or

Parameter Setting

Parameter Setting

?

?

?

?

Sentences

demanding

are too rare

I nput

I nput

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

14

Aims of Chomskyan Linguistics

Aims of Chomskyan Linguistics

Explain language data.

Explain language data.

Describe a speaker’s knowledge of

Describe a speaker’s knowledge of

language by means of a grammar.

language by means of a grammar.

Explain linguistic competence.

Explain linguistic competence.

Describe the human language faculty.

Describe the human language faculty.

L2

L2

acquisition?

acquisition?

Logical vs. Practical Problems

Logical vs. Practical Problems

How is

How is

language

language

acquired?

acquired?

How can

How can

language be

language be

acquired?

acquired?

What kind of UG

What kind of UG

do we need to explain

do we need to explain

all languages?

all languages?

What is the role of

What is the role of

UG in the acquisition

UG in the acquisition

process?

process?

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

15

Logical vs. Practical Problems

Logical vs. Practical Problems

L1

L1

How is

How is

language

language

acquired?

acquired?

How can

How can

language be

language be

acquired?

acquired?

How is the language

How is the language

faculty involved in

faculty involved in

L2 acquisition?

L2 acquisition?

L2 acquisition

L2 acquisition

is logically

is logically

quite different.

quite different.

Factors involved in L1 and L2

Factors involved in L1 and L2

acquisition

acquisition

L1 acquisition:

L1 acquisition:

Language faculty

Language faculty

Markedness

Markedness

Linguistic input

Linguistic input

L2 acquisition:

L2 acquisition:

Language faculty

Language faculty

–

–

how?

how?

–

–

to what extent?

to what extent?

Markedness

Markedness

–

–

relative to L1

relative to L1

Linguistic input

Linguistic input

–

–

including meta-

including meta-

linguistic input

linguistic input

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

16

Markedness and L2 Acquisition

Markedness and L2 Acquisition

Markedness of L1 and

Markedness of L1 and

L2 parameter settings

L2 parameter settings

Access to

Access to

language

language

faculty

faculty

Linguistic

Linguistic

input

input

Meta-

Meta-

linguistic

linguistic

input

input

IL

IL

Schedule

Schedule

25.10.

25.10.

Introduction

Introduction

1.11.

1.11.

Chomsky’s

Chomsky’s

theory

theory

8.11.

8.11.

15.11.

15.11.

22.11.

22.11.

29.11.

29.11.

Dies Acad.

Dies Acad.

6.12.

6.12.

no course

no course

13.12.

13.12.

20.12.

20.12.

10.1.

10.1.

17.1.

17.1.

24.1.

24.1.

Conclusion

Conclusion

31.1.

31.1.

no course

no course

7.2.

7.2.

no course

no course

14.2.

14.2.

exams

exams

L1 acquisition

L1 acquisition

L2 acquisition

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

17

Literature: general

Literature: general

25.10.

25.10.

Introduction

Introduction

1.11.

1.11.

Chomsky’s

Chomsky’s

theory

theory

8.11.

8.11.

15.11.

15.11.

22.11.

22.11.

29.11.

29.11.

Dies Acad.

Dies Acad.

6.12.

6.12.

no course

no course

13.12.

13.12.

20.12.

20.12.

10.1.

10.1.

17.1.

17.1.

24.1.

24.1.

Conclusion

Conclusion

31.1.

31.1.

no course

no course

7.2.

7.2.

no course

no course

14.2.

14.2.

exams

exams

L1 acquisition

L1 acquisition

L2 acquisition

1

2

3

Introductory literature 1

Introductory literature 1

Chomskyan linguistics

Chomskyan linguistics

–

–

Hornstein, Norbert & Lightfoot, David (1981),

Hornstein, Norbert & Lightfoot, David (1981),

‘Introduction’, in Hornstein & Lightfoot (eds.),

‘Introduction’, in Hornstein & Lightfoot (eds.),

Explanation in Linguistics: The logical problem of

Explanation in Linguistics: The logical problem of

language acquisition

language acquisition

, London & New York:

, London & New York:

Longman, p. 9-31.

Longman, p. 9-31.

–

–

ten Hacken, Pius (2002), ‘Chomskyan Linguistics

ten Hacken, Pius (2002), ‘Chomskyan Linguistics

and the Sciences of Communication’,

and the Sciences of Communication’,

Studies in

Studies in

Communication Sciences

Communication Sciences

2/2:109-134.

2/2:109-134.

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

18

Introductory literature 2

Introductory literature 2

First language acquisition:

First language acquisition:

–

–

Crain, Stephen & Lillo-Martin, Diane (1999),

Crain, Stephen & Lillo-Martin, Diane (1999),

An

An

Introduction to Linguistic Theory and Language

Introduction to Linguistic Theory and Language

Acquisition

Acquisition

, Oxford: Blackwell, Part 1 (p. 3-70).

, Oxford: Blackwell, Part 1 (p. 3-70).

–

–

Chomsky, Noam (1999), ‘On the Nature, Use, and

Chomsky, Noam (1999), ‘On the Nature, Use, and

Acquisition of Language’, in Ritchie & Bhatia

Acquisition of Language’, in Ritchie & Bhatia

(eds.),

(eds.),

Handbook of Child Language Acquisition

Handbook of Child Language Acquisition

, San

, San

Diego: Academic Press, p. 33-54.

Diego: Academic Press, p. 33-54.

Topics (examples)

Topics (examples)

Type of involve-

ment of UG

Acquisition

of grammar

L1

L2

maturation
continuity
bio-program

full access to UG
no access to UG
access through L1

morphology
auxiliaries
X-bar theory
word order
prodrop
…

Language Acquisition and UG

WS 02/03, week 1

© 2002 Pius ten Hacken

19

Schedule

Schedule

25.10.

25.10.

Introduction

Introduction

1.11.

1.11.

Chomsky’s

Chomsky’s

theory

theory

8.11.

8.11.

15.11.

15.11.

22.11.

22.11.

29.11.

29.11.

Dies Acad.

Dies Acad.

6.12.

6.12.

no course

no course

13.12.

13.12.

20.12.

20.12.

10.1.

10.1.

17.1.

17.1.

24.1.

24.1.

Conclusion

Conclusion

31.1.

31.1.

no course

no course

7.2.

7.2.

no course

no course

14.2.

14.2.

exams

exams

L1 acquisition

L1 acquisition

L2 acquisition