Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 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
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Competence vs. Performance
Competence vs. Performance
Competence Perform ance
Competence Perform ance
knowledge of a utterance in a
knowledge of a utterance in a
particular speaker particular situation
particular speaker particular situation
embodied in the acoustically
embodied in the acoustically
mind/brain perceptible
mind/brain perceptible
(relatively) subject to accidental
(relatively) subject to accidental
systematic and non-linguistic
systematic and non-linguistic
constraints
constraints
Three views of language
Three views of language
Language
Language
Language
Language
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
I-language vs. E-language
I-language vs. E-language
I(nternal) language E(xternal) language
I(nternal) language E(xternal) language
knowledge of a abstract notion
knowledge of a abstract notion
particular speaker
particular speaker
set of gramm atical
set of gramm atical
embodied in the sentences
embodied in the sentences
mind/brain
mind/brain
individual speakers
individual speakers
(relatively) have im perfect
(relatively) have im perfect
systematic knowledge of it
systematic knowledge of it
Three views of language
Three views of language
Language
Language
Language
E-language
Language
Competence
I-language Performance
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
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
Other
Other
Knowledge
Knowledge
Linguistic
Linguistic
Free Will
Free Will
Competence
Competence
Constraints
Performance
Performance
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Observations of a mental state
Observations of a mental state
Constraints
Linguistic
Linguistic
Observation
Observation
Competence
Competence
Other Knowledge
Chomskyan linguistics
Chomskyan linguistics
describes
describes
Grammar Competence
Grammar Competence
explains
explains
is realized in
is realized in
tests
tests
Data
Data
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
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 real
We need a criterion to find the 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
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Universal Grammar
Universal Grammar
describes
describes
Universal Language
Universal Language
Grammar Faculty
Grammar Faculty
explains
explains
tests
tests
is realized in
is realized in
describes
describes
Competence Grammar
Competence Grammar
Competence Grammar
Competence Grammar
Competence Grammar
Grammar Competence
Grammar Competence
Chomskyan Linguistics
Chomskyan Linguistics
describes
describes
Language
Language
Universal
Universal
Faculty
Faculty
Grammar
Grammar
tests explains
tests explains
describes
describes
Grammar Competence
Grammar Competence
explains
explains
test
test
Data
Data
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Optimizing Our UG
Optimizing Our UG
stronger theory:
weaker theory:
more constraints
more possibilities
explanation
description of
of language
all languages
acquisition
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 Language acquisition is supported
Every language Language acquisition is supported
can be acquired. by the language faculty.
can be acquired. by the language faculty.
Investigate Investigate
Investigate Investigate
the variety of the process of
the variety of the process of
languages acquisition
languages acquisition
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Logical vs. Practical Problems
Logical vs. Practical Problems
How is How can
How is How can
language language be
language language be
acquired? acquired?
acquired? acquired?
What kind of UG
What kind of UG
What is the role of
What is the role of
do we need to explain
do we need to explain
UG in the acquisition
UG in the acquisition
all languages?
all languages?
process?
process?
The Language Acquisition
The Language Acquisition
Process
Process
1. Growth
1. Growth
2. Input
2. Input
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
The Language Acquisition
The Language Acquisition
Process
Process
1. Growth: genetically determined
1. Growth: genetically determined
2. Input
2. Input
Language
Language
Language
Language
Faculty
Faculty
Faculty
Faculty
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 needs electricity.
They knew that a washing machine needs electricity.
Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität braucht.
Sie wussten, dass eine Waschmaschine Elektrizität braucht.
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
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 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
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.
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
The Language Acquisition
The Language Acquisition
Process
Process
1. Growth: genetically determined
1. Growth: genetically determined
2. Input Ò! Parameter setting
2. Input Ò! Parameter setting
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
? ???
? ???
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Input
Input
Parameter Setting
Parameter Setting
Input
Input
?
?
?
?
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Subset Principle
Subset Principle
Data compatible
with or
Procedure:
Procedure:
" assumed
" assumed
" adopted when
" adopted when
forced by input
forced by input
Data compatible
with but not
Parameter Setting
Parameter Setting
Sentences
Input
Input demanding
are too rare
?
?
?
?
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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 can
How is How can
language language be
language language be
acquired? acquired?
acquired? acquired?
What kind of UG
What kind of UG
What is the role of
What is the role of
do we need to explain
do we need to explain
UG in the acquisition
UG in the acquisition
all languages?
all languages?
process?
process?
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Logical vs. Practical Problems
Logical vs. Practical Problems
How is How can
How is How can
L1
L1
language language be
language language be
acquired? acquired?
acquired? acquired?
L2 acquisition
L2 acquisition
How is the language
How is the language
is logically
is logically
faculty involved in
faculty involved in
quite different.
quite different.
L2 acquisition?
L2 acquisition?
Factors involved in L1 and L2
Factors involved in L1 and L2
acquisition
acquisition
L1 acquisition: L2 acquisition:
L1 acquisition: L2 acquisition:
Language faculty Language faculty
Language faculty Language faculty
 how?
 how?
Markedness
Markedness
 to what extent?
 to what extent?
Linguistic input
Linguistic input
Markedness
Markedness
 relative to L1
 relative to L1
Linguistic input
Linguistic input
 including meta-
 including meta-
linguistic input
linguistic input
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Markedness and L2 Acquisition
Markedness and L2 Acquisition
Access to
Access to
language
language
faculty
faculty
Linguistic Markedness of L1 and
Linguistic Markedness of L1 and
IL
IL
input L2 parameter settings
input L2 parameter settings
Meta-
Meta-
linguistic
linguistic
input
input
Schedule
Schedule
25.10. Introduction 13.12.
25.10. Introduction 13.12.
1.11. Chomsky s 20.12.
1.11. Chomsky s 20.12.
L2 acquisition
theory
theory
10.1.
10.1.
8.11.
8.11.
17.1.
17.1.
L1 acquisition
L1 acquisition
15.11.
15.11.
24.1. Conclusion
24.1. Conclusion
22.11.
22.11.
31.1. no course
31.1. no course
29.11. Dies Acad.
29.11. Dies Acad.
7.2. no course
7.2. no course
6.12. no course
6.12. no course
14.2. exams
14.2. exams
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Literature: general
Literature: general
3
25.10. Introduction 13.12.
25.10. Introduction 1 13.12.
1.11. Chomsky s 20.12.
1.11. Chomsky s 20.12.
L2 acquisition
2
theory
theory
10.1.
10.1.
8.11.
8.11.
17.1.
17.1.
L1 acquisition
L1 acquisition
15.11.
15.11.
24.1. Conclusion
24.1. Conclusion
22.11.
22.11.
31.1. no course
31.1. no course
29.11. Dies Acad.
29.11. Dies Acad.
7.2. no course
7.2. no course
6.12. no course
6.12. no course
14.2. exams
14.2. exams
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
Explanationin Linguistics: The logical problemof
language acquisition, London & New York:
language acquisition, 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 , Studies in
and the Sciences of Communication , Studies in
Communication Sciences 2/2:109-134.
Communication Sciences 2/2:109-134.
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Introductory literature 2
Introductory literature 2
First language acquisition:
First language acquisition:
 Crain, Stephen & Lillo-Martin, Diane (1999), An
 Crain, Stephen & Lillo-Martin, Diane (1999), An
Introduction toLinguistic Theory and Language
Introduction to Linguistic Theory and Language
Acquisition, Oxford: Blackwell, Part 1 (p. 3-70).
Acquisition, 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.), Handbook of Child Language Acquisition, San
(eds.), Handbook of Child Language Acquisition, San
Diego: Academic Press, p. 33-54.
Diego: Academic Press, p. 33-54.
Topics (examples)
Topics (examples)
Type of involve- Acquisition
ment of UG of grammar
maturation
morphology
L1 continuity
auxiliaries
bio-program
X-bar theory
word order
full access to UG
prodrop
no access to UG
L2 &
access through L1
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Language Acquisition and UG WS 02/03, week 1
Schedule
Schedule
25.10. Introduction 13.12.
25.10. Introduction 13.12.
1.11. Chomsky s 20.12.
1.11. Chomsky s 20.12.
L2 acquisition
theory
theory
10.1.
10.1.
8.11.
8.11.
17.1.
17.1.
L1 acquisition
L1 acquisition
15.11.
15.11.
24.1. Conclusion
24.1. Conclusion
22.11.
22.11.
31.1. no course
31.1. no course
29.11. Dies Acad.
29.11. Dies Acad.
7.2. no course
7.2. no course
6.12. no course
6.12. no course
14.2. exams
14.2. exams
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