The initial state of Zulu L2 syntax : a study of the emergence of the CP projection in the Zulu grammar of native English speakers
This thesis is concerned with the nature of developing interlanguage grammars from the initial state up to ultimate attainment. The investigation focuses on the availability of functional categories in initial state grammars and how these evolve up to ultimate attainment. The inquiry is conducted within the Principles and Parameters model. The basic assumptions made in the study are: (1) Universal Grammar is continually accessible in second language acquisition (2) parameters are associated with properties of functional categories and parametric variation reduces to differences in the properties of functional categories. As second language learners have a fully developed functional architecture of their native language grammar, properties of these fundamental categories may be incompatible with those required in the second language grammar. We then investigated whether the functional geometry of the native language has an influence at the initial state of second language acquisition, and if so, the exact nature and extent of this influence in the second language acquisition process. We therefore hypothesised that the initial state grammar for second language learners constitutes the final state of their first
Dube, Sibusisiwe
The initial state of Zulu L2 syntax : a study of the emergence of the CP projection in the Zulu grammar of native English speakers. This thesis is concerned with the nature of developing interlanguage grammars from the initial state up to ultimate attainment. The investigation focuses on the availability of functional categories in initial state grammars and how these evolve up to ultimate attainment. The inquiry is conducted within the Principles and Parameters model. The basic assumptions made in the study are: (1) Universal Grammar is continually accessible in second language acquisition (2) parameters are associated with properties of functional categories and parametric variation reduces to differences in the properties of functional categories. As second language learners have a fully developed functional architecture of their native language grammar, properties of these fundamental categories may be incompatible with those required in the second language grammar. We then investigated whether the functional geometry of the native language has an influence at the initial state of second language acquisition, and if so, the exact nature and extent of this influence in the second language acquisition process. We therefore hypothesised that the initial state grammar for second language learners constitutes the final state of their first
initial state syntax study emergence projection grammar native_english_speaker concerned_nature develop interlanguage grammar initial state ultimate attainment investigation focus availability functional_category initial state grammar evolve ultimate attainment inquiry conduct within_principles parameters model basic_assumption make study universal_grammar continually accessible second_language_acquisition parameter associate property_functional category parametric variation reduces difference property_functional category second_language_learner fully_develop functional architecture native_language grammar property fundamental category may incompatible required second_language grammar investigate_whether functional geometry native_language influence initial state second_language_acquisition exact nature_extent influence second_language acquisition_process therefore hypothesise initial state grammar second_language_learner constitute final state first