Second Language Acquisition (Romance Languages focus): Theory and experimental methods

Course Description

This course explores theoretical and empirical approaches to the field of Second Language Acquisition with a focus on the acquisition of Romance languages as a second language (L2). We will consider competing theoretical frameworks: on the one hand, those informed by Chomskyan ‘Generative Grammar’ approaches like ‘Principles & Parameters’ and ‘the Minimalist Program’, and on the other hand, non- or counter-Chomskyan approaches like those in Cognitive Linguistics, ‘Construction Grammar’, and ‘Connectionism’, among others. We will also consider the methods used in applied, experimental, and psycho- and neurolinguistic research. We will consult foundational and state-of-the-art peer-reviewed research on data from a wide range of bilingual populations, including adult L2 learners, childhood bilinguals, and third-language (L3) learners or multilinguals. Over the course of the semester, students will develop a pilot study proposal in which you develop working research questions and hypotheses, conduct a review of the previous literature on your topic, articulate empirical methods and design experimental materials, collect a small amount of data, and articulate how to scale-up the study into a thesis/dissertation-scale project and/or a publishable peer-reviewed journal article in the near future. Students will also present on their original research, while graduate students will additionally present on research in the previous literature. This course is the same as RLL 303 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Code

LIN 303

Credits

3

Subject

Linguistics