Questions empirical and heuristic value of parameters in most uses to elucidate relationship between markedness theory and parameters. Shows approaches labeled Principles and Parameters are reformulation of markedness theory; PP reformulation may be less adequate than former models of MT; function of parameters in current phonological literature…

The purpose of this study was two-fold: it primarily intended to incorporate some insights into the newly-explored field of L3A: secondly, it aimed to highlight the significance of translation as a valid language activity in exploring the native language influence on non-native language acquisition process. To this end, it investigated the…

Examines some of the rules of atomic phonology so as to elucidate just what the theory is and is not capable of. The theory of atomic phonology maintains that all linguistic variation requiring distinctly varied formulations of phonological rules is predictable from a set of "atomic rules" and universal principles of grammar. (SED)

The author reviews tri-ad language models and suggests that they are not sufficient in describing language use. He introduces a six component language model adopted from the model originally intended for persuasive oratory. (MS)

This study investigates whether or not abstract-level linguistic features, not successfully acquired abroad, will be acquired once the advanced language learner returns from a study abroad program and is exposed to linguistic instruction. The goal of the study was to measure the development of the Spanish subjunctive in adverbial clauses collected…

Languages are transmitted from person to person and generation to generation via a process of iterated learning: people learn a language from other people who once learned that language themselves. We analyze the consequences of iterated learning for learning algorithms based on the principles of Bayesian inference, assuming that learners compute…

The simultaneous presence in a learner's grammar of two features that should be mutually exclusive (optionality) typifies second language acquisition. But generative approaches have no good means of accommodating the phenomenon. The paper proposes one approach, based on Truscott and Sharwood Smith's (2004) MOGUL framework. In this framework,…

THIS DOCUMENT QUESTIONS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VALIDITY OF DISJUNCTIVE CONCEPTS. A DISJUNCTIVE CONCEPT IS DEFINED AS AN AGGREGATE CHARACTERIZED BY THE PRESENCE OF EITHER ONE OF SEVERAL ATTRIBUTES OR ALL OF THEM, WHERE THE DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES DO NOT SHARE ANY ELEMENTS IN COMMON. THE AUTHOR FEELS THAT NATURAL HUMAN CATEGORIES ARE TYPICALLY NOT…

Discusses the numerical distribution of the six logically possible orders of the Subject (S), Object (O), and Verb (V) across world languages. It is argued that the semantic relations of S, O, and V are best characterized as three concentric regions; S contained in O and O contained in V. (29 references) (Author/VWL)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a computational approach and a toolset to infer spatial displacements as they occur in route narrative documents and report on first experiments done to produce computer-aided learning (CAL) applications and instructional design editors that exploit the inferred georeferenced itineraries.…

The article proposes Stern's (1983) framework for classifying issues related to instruction in order to ascertain the relevance of Universal Grammar (UG) in the ESL/EFL classroom. Discussed in this article, particularly as UG pertains to them, are issues related to: (a) L1 transfer; (b) teaching rules and giving error correction versus presenting…

Similarities among different languages that are met with by means of empirical, confrontative analysis should not be mistaken for universals in the logical or philosophical sense. What Verma has described as the "propositional constituents" of a sentence (participants, process, and a temporal relation) may be considered logically…

Discusses the origins and development of language, both oral and written. (GB)

Analyzes the vowel position in the words for here" and there" across six language families in order to present evidence for a universal sound symbolism. (MB)

Notes similarities between certain aspects of the development of the natural language English and the artificial language FORTRAN. Discusses evolutionary history, grammar, style, syntax, varieties, and attempts at standardization. Emphasizes modifications which natural and artificial languages have undergone. Suggests that some modifications were…