Language acquisition

The course will begin with an introduction to first language (L1) acquisition, addressing key research questions, the logical and developmental problems of language acquisition, and current theoretical approaches. Building on this foundation, the course will delve further into L1 acquisition, with a specific focus on the development of functional structure in child grammar. Fundamental hypotheses related to this topic will be explored and critically analysed to provide insights into syntactic development in early language acquisition.

The course will then examine language acquisition in the context of bilingualism, exploring both the challenges and opportunities faced by children growing up with multiple languages and critically reviewing fundamental hypotheses on bilingual language acquisition.

Second language (L2) acquisition will also be addressed, focusing on the similarities and differences between first and second language acquisition. Particular emphasis will be placed on the initial state in L2 acquisition and on key hypotheses related to it. The discussion will then shift to interlanguage, reflecting on the mechanisms that shape it.

The course will progressively focus on the development of the verbal domain across the three contexts mentioned. This comparative approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of syntactic development and its variations across different acquisition contexts. While the specific linguistic phenomenon addressed may vary, the course will maintain its structure, focusing on analysing the chosen topic and relevant data within each context.

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:                  

• Analyze key issues in first language (L1) acquisition, and evaluate the relevance of current theoretical approaches.
• Critically assess fundamental hypotheses related to the functional structure in child grammar, gaining insights into syntactic development during early language acquisition.
• Understand the complexities of bilingual language acquisition, identifying both challenges and opportunities for children growing up with multiple languages and evaluating key hypotheses on bilingualism.
• Compare and contrast first and second language (L2) acquisition, exploring similarities and differences, while examining the concept of interlanguage and reflecting on the mechanisms that shape its development.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the verbal domainby analyzing its acquisition across the contexts of L1 acquisition, bilingualism, and L2 acquisition, and critically evaluating data in light of relevant hypotheses.

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