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Access to Universal Grammar: The real issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Hagit Borer
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. borer@linguist.umass.edu

Abstract

Issues concerning UG access for L2 acquisition as formulated by Epstein et al. are misleading as well as poorly discussed. UG accessibility can only be fully evaluated with respect to the steady state gram mar reached by the learner. The steady state for LI learners is self evidently the adult grammar in the speech community. For L2 learners, however, the steady state is not obvious. Yet, without its clear characterization, debates concerning stages of L2 acquisition and direct and indirect UG accessibility cannot be resolved.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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