Language Acquisition and the Theory of ParametersSpringer Netherlands, 31/08/1986 - 186 من الصفحات This book is perhaps the most stunning available demonstration of the explanatory power of the parametric approach to linguistic theory. It is akin, not to a deductive proof, but to the discovery of a footprint in a far-off place which leaves an archeologist elated. The book is full of intricate reasoning, but the stunning aspect is that the reasoning moves between not only complex syntax and diverse languages, but it makes predictions about what two-year-old children will assume about the jumble of linguistic input that confronts them. Those predictions, Hyams shows, are supported by a discriminating analysis of acquisition data in English and Italian. Let us examine the linguistic context for a moment before we discuss her theory. The ultimate issue in linguistic theory is the explanation of how a child can acquire any human language. To capture this fact we must posit an innate mechanism which meets two opposite constraints: it must be broad enough to account for the diversity of human language, and narrow enough so that the child does not make irrelevant hypotheses about his own language, particularly ones from which there is no recovery. That is, a child must not posit a grammar which permits all of the sentences of a language as well as other sentences which are not in the language. In a word, the child must not create a language in which one cannot make adult discriminations between grammatical and ungrammatical. |
المحتوى
LINGUISTIC THEORY AND SYNTACTIC | 1 |
THE NULL SUBJECT PHENOMENON | 26 |
THE AGPRO PARAMETER IN EARLY | 63 |
حقوق النشر | |
5 من الأقسام الأخرى غير ظاهرة
طبعات أخرى - عرض جميع المقتطفات
Language Acquisition and the Theory of Parameters <span dir=ltr>Nina Hyams</span> لا تتوفر معاينة - 1986 |
عبارات ومصطلحات مألوفة
acquisition adult grammar AG/PRO parameter agreement analysis appear applies argue argument assigned assume auxiliary Avoid Brown Chapter child Chomsky clauses clitic complex Conditions consider constructions contain contractible determined discussion early grammar effects elements embedded emerge English evidence example expect explain expletives fact further German gerunds given governed head hence hypothesis INFL inflection initial input interpretation Italian John language lexical subjects linguistic marked markedness modals Move negative noted null subject object option particular period phenomenon possible postverbal predictions present Principle pro-drop languages problem produce pronominal pronouns properties proposed provides question raising reasons Recall reference representations requirement respect restructuring Rule S-structure seems semantic semantically-based sentences setting Similarly speaking children specified stage structure subject position suggested syntactic syntax tensed theory triggering University utterances various verb