LANGUAGE UNIVERSALS AND SECOND-LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

There are many factors influencing second language acquisition, such as learner external factors including social factors, the input of second language acquisition and the relationship between acquisition; internal factors including the transfer of language, cognition of second language and language universals, etc, which influence the psychological factors of learner's second language; individual differences include some factors in physiological emotion, cognition, and learning strategies. This article is to explore the role of learners in second language acquisition from the perspective of individual differences (age, aptitude, learning motivation).

Download Full-text

Some Theoretical and Pedagogical Implications of the Markedness Differential Hypothesis

Studies in Second Language Acquisition ◽

10.1017/s0272263100005544 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 289-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Fred R. Eckman

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Second Language Acquisition ◽

Language Acquisition ◽

Empirical Study ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Native Language ◽

Language Transfer ◽

Contrastive Analysis ◽

Theoretical Assumptions ◽

Language Universals

This paper is intended as a programmatic contribution to the work of a number of scholars in second language acquisition (SLA) who are attempting to explain various facts about SLA in terms of an interaction between native-language transfer and language universals (Gass & Selinker, 1983). In the present paper, some of the theoretical assumptions and consequences of the Markedness Differential Hypothesis (MDH) (Eckman, 1977) are discussed in comparison with the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis. Crucial differences between the two hypotheses are presented, and empirical evidence in favor of the MDH is reviewed. Pedagogical implications of the MDH are then taken up, and a strategy for interlanguage-intervention is discussed in light of an empirical study. Finally, several problems for the MDH which have been proposed in the literature are considered.

Download Full-text

Cognition, complexity and context as other minds: a tribute to T. Givón

10.11606/9786587621845 ◽

2022 ◽

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Second Language Acquisition ◽

Language Acquisition ◽

Cognitive Science ◽

Other Minds ◽

Human Language ◽

Natural Languages ◽

Research Fields ◽

Language Universals ◽

Development And Evolution

Linguistics is made up of great individuals. Throughout its not so long history as compared with other sciences, linguistics boasts many remarkable contributors who paved the way for human language study and thus led us into exploring the rising, development and evolution not only of natural languages, but also that of our own species. This book is a tribute to one of those great contributors to linguistics, T. Givón. As he argues for an evolutionary approach to communication and language, Givón has covered various research fields in linguistics such as morphosyntax, semantics, pragmatics, discourse and text, second language acquisition, pidgins and creoles, language universals, grammaticalization, and cognitive science.

Download Full-text

Language is learned

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x00043739 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 735-736 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brian MacWhinney

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Second Language Acquisition ◽

Language Acquisition ◽

Language Learning ◽

Second Language Learning ◽

Language Universals

AbstractEpstein et al. attribute second language learning to the forces of transfer and language universals. They show that transfer is minimally involved in certain types of learning and therefore conclude that universals are involved. However, they forget to consider the important role of learning in second language acquisition.

Download Full-text