A discussion on the acquisition of morphology and syntax focuses on the following: (1) the problem of regularity in interlanguage (IL) morphology and syntax, (2) the contribution of universal grammar to second-language acquisition, and (3) variability in IL performance. An annotated bibliography is appended. (38 references) (GLR)

Assesses the contributions made by different approaches to interlanguage pragmatics as a subfield of second language acquisition. Discusses how four particular perspectives on pragmatic development relate to each other. (Author/VWL)

Reviews Tesar and Smolensky's, "Learnability in Optimality Theory" (2000). Discusses the main tenets of the book as well as the different topics included in each chapter. (Author/VWL)

Most previous studies on topic prominence in second language (L2) acquisition have investigated interlanguage from the direction either of topic prominence to subject prominence or subject prominence to subject prominence. The role of topic/subject prominence typology in L2 acquisition cannot be fully explained until additional studies are…

Research assumptions and procedures of two studies of interlanguage (IL) phonology are examined and criticized. In both studies, syllable structure is used as a primary variable, but opposing claims are made about "open" and "closed" IL syllable structure preference. It is argues that: (1) neither IL study considers sufficiently the phonetic…

A model of language transfer is proposed. It examines the nature of language transfer, identifies which language phenomena are transferred, and predicts conditions for language transfer occurrence. The model includes notions of language universals, language distance, and surface language phenomena. (PMJ)

Discusses dependence and frequency data in second language acquisition research and investigates the violation of the "independent observation" assumption as well as the effect of including interaction terms in frequency data analysis. Argues in favor of using multifactorial frequency data analyses over multiple chi-squares to take into account…

Responds to an article on top-down versus bottom-up analyses of interlanguage data in second language acquisition research that argues in favor of using multifactorial frequency data analyses over multiple chi-squares to take into account dependence and interaction of the frequency data. (Author/VWL)

Assesses the role of identity in interlanguage development and performance, focusing on what research suggests about the relationship of identity to the speaker's overall target, to selected features of the speaker's interlanguage, and to target language speakers' attitudes toward the interlanguage speaker. (Author/CB)

Presents a research agenda in which the study of interlanguage becomes more central to the study of interlanguage pragmatics, assessing the state of acquisition research in interlanguage pragmatics, surveying work in interlanguage pragmatics that either directly examines or appeals to grammatical competence, showing how acquisition studies in…

An analysis of intrasentential codeswitching patterns that refutes a common explanation is presented. It is suggested that the Matrix Language-Frame model, which claims codeswitching to be entirely a matter of sentence production, is inadequate to account for a common but hitherto unexplained phenomenon, the occurrence of "dummy" verbs under…

The natural phonology theory, related to European structuralism, makes two fundamental assumptions: (1) phonemes are mental images of the sounds of language, and (2) phonological processes represent subconscious mental substitutions of one sound or class of sounds for another that are the natural response to the relative difficulties of sound…

Looks at recent research on learners' intake of a second language and concludes that second language research has inadequately explored the process of intake. Argues that both theory and the research derived from it need to develop consistent, well-defined models and methods for investigating language learners' processing of input. (SED)

Focuses on the relevance of principles of information organization in adult second language acquisition. Looks at typological features of information structure that allow speakers to organize and shape the flow of information when carrying out complex tasks and pinpoints factors that lead to the selection of linguistic form. The nature of the…

Sample accepted findings on learners, environments, and interlanguages are proposed along with some implications for second-language acquisition theories. (79 references) (JL)