Article

Language Universals and Universal Language: The Case of the Accessibility Hierarchy in Relativization

Jae Jung Song 1
Author Information & Copyright
1University 0f Otago

Copyright ⓒ 2016, Sejong University Language Research Institue. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jan 01, 2017

Abstract

This paper makes an attempt to raise the profile of linguistic typology (and linguistic-typology-based L2 acquisition research) in the context of the study of universal language (or interlinguistics). Linguistic typology, together with L2 acquisition research, can provide a useful framework in which to assess the structural neutrality of artificial or planned languages. Evidence from accessibility to relativization and L2 acquisition of relative clauses is brought to bear upon the structural neutrality of artificial languages such as Esperanto. Moreover, linguistic typology and L2 acquisition research can make useful suggestions as to what may be the preferred structural types for artificial languages. Such suggestions should be taken into account in the development of artificial languages, because these languages also are learned as L2s.

Keywords: language universals; universal language; typology; artificial language; second language acquisition

References

1.

Aarts, F. & E. Schils. 1995. Relative Clauses, the Accessibility Hierarchy and the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis. 1nternational Review o1 Applied Linguistics 33, 47-63.

2.

Blanke, D. 1985. 1nternationale Planschprachen. Berlin: Akademie Verlag.

3.

Comrie, B. 1984. Wihy Linguists Need Language Acquirers. ln Wi. Rutherford (ed.), 11-29.

4.

Comrie, B. 1989. Language Universals and Linguistic Typology. Oxford: Blackwell.

5.

Comrie, B. 1995. Natural and Artificial lnternational Languages: A Typologist's Assessment. Proceedings o1 the Con1erence on the Need 1or a Universal Language and Methods o1 its Creation as Suggested by Hangul 44-66. Seoul: Sejong University.

6.

Croteau, K. 1995. Second Language Acquisition of Relative Clause Structures by Learners of ltalian. ln F. Eckman, D. Highland, P. Lee, J. Mileham, & R. Wieber (eds.), Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy 115-128. Mahwah, NJ:Lawrence Erlbaum.

7.

Crystal, D. 1997. English as Global Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

8.

Doughty, C. 1991. Second Language lnstruction Does Make a Difference: Evidence from an Empirical Study of SL Relativization. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 13, 431-469.

9.

Eckman, F. 1977. Markedness and the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis. Language Learning 27, 315-330.

10.

Eckman, F. 1984. Universals, Typologies and lnterlanguage. ln Wi. Rutherford (ed.), 79-105.

11.

Eckman, F. 1991. The Structural Conformity Hypothesis and the Acquisition of Consonant Clusters in the lnterlanguage of ESL Learners. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 13, 23-41.

12.

Eckman, F., L. Bell, & D. Nelson. 1988. On the Generalization of Relative Clause lnstruction in the Acquisition of English as a Second Language. Applied Linguistics 9, 1-20.

13.

Eckman, F., E. Moravcsik, & J. Wiirth. 1989. lmplicational Universals and lnterrogative Structures in the lnterlanguage of ESL Learners. Language Learning 39, 173-205.

14.

Gass, S. 1979. Language Transfer and Universal Grammatical Relations. Language Learning 29, 327-344.

15.

Gass, S. 1982. From Theory to Practice. ln M. Hines & Rutherford (eds.), On TESOL 81, 129-140. Wiashington, DC: TESOL.

16.

Gass, S. 1996. Second Language Acquisition and Linguistic Theory: The Role of Language Transfer. ln Wi. Ritchie & T. Bhatia (eds.), 317-345.

17.

Gass, S. & J. Ard. 1980. L2 Data: Their Relevance for Language Universals. TESOL Quarterly 14, 443-452.

18.

Gass, S. & J. Ard. 1984. Second Language Acquisition and the Ontology of Language Universals. ln Wi. Rutherford (ed.), Language Universals and Second Language Acquisition 33-67. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

19.

Gass, S. 1989. Language Universals and Second Language Acquisition. Language Learning 39, 497-534.

20.

Gledhill, C. 1998. The Grammar o1 Esperanto. München: Lincom Europa.

21.

Hawkins, J. 1987. lmplicational Universals as Predictors of Language Acquisition. Linguistics 25, 453-473.

22.

Hyltenstam, K. 1984. The Use of Typological Markedness Conditions as Predictors in Second Language Acquisition: The Case of Pronominal Copies in Relative Clauses. ln R. Andersen (ed.),Second Languages: A Cross-linguistic Perspective 39-58. Rowley, MA: Newbury House.

23.

Jakobson, R. 1941. Kindersprache, Aphasie, und Allgemeine Lautgesetze. Uppsala: Uppsala Universitets Aarskrift.

24.

Jakobson, R. 1968. Child Language, Aphasia and Phonological Universals. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

25.

Keenan, E. & B. Comrie. 1977. Noun Phrase Accessibility and Universal Grammar. Linguistic 1nquiry 8, 63-99.

26.

Lapenna, l., U. Lins, & T. Carlevaro. 1974. Esperanto en Perspektivo. London: Centro de Esploro kaj Dokumentado pri la Monda Lingvo-Problemo.

27.

Maxwell, D. 1989. Principles for Constructing Panned Languages. ln K. Schubert (ed.), 101-119.

28.

Pavesi, M. 1986. Markedness, Discoursal Modes, and RelativeClause Formation in a Formal and an lnformal Context. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 8, 38-55.

29.

Rutherford, (ed.). 1984. Language Universals and Second Language Acquisition. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

30.

Schachter, J. 1974. An Error in Error Analysis. Language Learning 24, 205-214.

31.

Schubert, K. (ed.). 1989. 1nterlinguistics: Aspects o1 the Science o1 Planned Language. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

32.

Song, J. 2001. Linguistic Typology: Morphology and Syntax. Harlow & London: Pearson Education.

33.

Swales, J. 1990. Genre Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.