Functional categories in Greek as a second language : evidence for the full transfer/full access hypothesis

Part of : Γλωσσολογία ; Vol.14, 2002, pages 59-82

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59-82
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Current research on second-language acquisition within the Principles and parameters model has focused on the availability and nature of functional categories as well as on the role of first-language transfer and access to Universal Grammar in second-language acquisition. Ιn this paper, we will present evidence from Greek second language learners against the existence of a purely lexical stage and in favor of early emergence of functional categories in second language grammars. Relevant data include the production of determiners, inflection (agreement and tense), ιvi-questions and embedded clauses. We argue that the empirical evidence presented in this work provides support for the Full Transfer/Full Αccess Hypothesis and not for the Minimal Trees Hypothesis.
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Περιέχει πίνακες, σημειώσεις και βιβλιογραφία, Earlier versions of this paper were presented at the Generative Approaches to Language Acquisition (GALA) '99 at the University of Potsdam in September 1999, at the 14th International Conference on Theoretical and Applied Linguistics at the English Department of the Αristotle University of Thessaloniki in Αpril 2000, and at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Department of Linguistics at the Αristotle University of Thessaloniki in May 2000. Ι am grateful to the participants of these conferences for comments and suggestions. Ι would also like to thank Richard Ιngham and Ιrene Philippaki-Warburton for their comments. Ι am particularΙy indebted to Lena Gavruseva for her valuable suggestions. Α version of this paper has appeared in the Reading Working Papers in Linguistics 5 (2001).