What does current generative theory have to say about the explicit-implicit debate?
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Bill VanPatten
Abstract
Taking a generative perspective, we divide aspects of language into three broad categories: those that cannot be learned (are inherent in Universal Grammar), those that are derived from Universal Grammar, and those that must be learned from the input. Using this framework of language to clarify the “what” of learning, we take the acquisition of null (and overt) subjects in languages like Spanish as an example of how to apply the framework. We demonstrate what properties of a null-subject grammar cannot be learned explicitly, which properties can, but also argue that it is an open empirical question as to whether these latter properties are learned using explicit processes, showing how linguistic and psychological approaches may intersect to better understand acquisition.
Abstract
Taking a generative perspective, we divide aspects of language into three broad categories: those that cannot be learned (are inherent in Universal Grammar), those that are derived from Universal Grammar, and those that must be learned from the input. Using this framework of language to clarify the “what” of learning, we take the acquisition of null (and overt) subjects in languages like Spanish as an example of how to apply the framework. We demonstrate what properties of a null-subject grammar cannot be learned explicitly, which properties can, but also argue that it is an open empirical question as to whether these latter properties are learned using explicit processes, showing how linguistic and psychological approaches may intersect to better understand acquisition.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- List of contributors ix
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Introduction
- Introduction xiii
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Theoretical perspectives
- Implicit AND explicit language learning 3
- Explaining phenomena of first and second language acquisition with the constructs of implicit and explicit learning 25
- Implicit learning in SLA 47
- Semantic implicit learning 69
- What does current generative theory have to say about the explicit-implicit debate? 91
- Explicit knowledge about language in L2 learning 117
- The learnability of language 139
- Tracking multiple inputs 167
- Implicit statistical learning and language acquisition 191
- Implicit learning of non-adjacent dependencies 213
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Methodology
- Artificial grammar learning 249
- Challenges in implicit learning research 275
- Effects of conditions on L2 development 301
- Investigating implicit and explicit processing using L2 learners’ eye-movement data 325
- Contributions of event-related potential research to issues in explicit and implicit second language acquisition 349
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Practical applications
- Implicit learning of a L2 morphosyntactic rule, and its relevance for language teaching 387
- Form-focused instruction and the measurement of implicit and explicit L2 knowledge 417
- Implicit and explicit instruction in L2 learning 443
- Index 483
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword vii
- List of contributors ix
-
Introduction
- Introduction xiii
-
Theoretical perspectives
- Implicit AND explicit language learning 3
- Explaining phenomena of first and second language acquisition with the constructs of implicit and explicit learning 25
- Implicit learning in SLA 47
- Semantic implicit learning 69
- What does current generative theory have to say about the explicit-implicit debate? 91
- Explicit knowledge about language in L2 learning 117
- The learnability of language 139
- Tracking multiple inputs 167
- Implicit statistical learning and language acquisition 191
- Implicit learning of non-adjacent dependencies 213
-
Methodology
- Artificial grammar learning 249
- Challenges in implicit learning research 275
- Effects of conditions on L2 development 301
- Investigating implicit and explicit processing using L2 learners’ eye-movement data 325
- Contributions of event-related potential research to issues in explicit and implicit second language acquisition 349
-
Practical applications
- Implicit learning of a L2 morphosyntactic rule, and its relevance for language teaching 387
- Form-focused instruction and the measurement of implicit and explicit L2 knowledge 417
- Implicit and explicit instruction in L2 learning 443
- Index 483
