Universals and Second Language Acquisition

Abstract

On the basis of a critical analysis of the articles in this issue, we argue for a shift in emphasis in the investigation of universals in second language acquisition (SLA). To construct a psycholinguistically plausible theory of acquisition, research must proceed simultaneously on a number of different fronts: the elaboration of (a) a theory of computationconsistent with human biology, (b) a theory of structural universals and variation, (c) a theory of meaning, and (d) a theory of pragmatics which must tie in with both a theory of cognitive development and a theory of sociocultural knowledge. None of the theories popular at present address all of these issues. We suggest that there is much room for consensus, but that achieving it will require keeping an eye firmly focused on the long-term objectives.

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