Schedule of events. Below is the current plan as to how the semester will proceed (though be warned, changes are likely!). The readings listed in the Reading column are those that relate to the discussion during that meeting. In general, the reading should be done after the class and before the next class, although you are welcome to read ahead. Access to the homework and homework keys requires password given out in class. Regarding the Homework column: If it says Read something, that is reading that you should do (M&M refers to our textbook), and if it says Do something, that is homework (due as indicated). If it says See also this refers to the papers and books which I have drawn upon in the lectures. You are not expected to read these papers and I have not even made them available, but I have them and if you are interested in reading more about the topics, this is where you can find the information. See the Bibliography page for complete references.

Week

Date

Topic

Homework

1

Tue
Sep 4

Setting the scene; first language acquisition and UG
(PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 1

Do: Homework 1 (due 9/11).

Do: Student questionnaire.

Thu
Sep 6

2

Tue
Sep 11

Some recent history of L2A research, Krashen's Monitor model (PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 2

Thu
Sep 13

The Critical/Sensitive Period Hypothesis

(PowerPoint, handout) (Homework 1 key)

Read: Harley & Wang (1997)

Do: Homework 2 (due 9/20).

See also: Eubank & Gregg (1999), Long (1990)

3

Tue
Sep 18

UG
in
L2A
Syntactic background, introduction to some principles and parameters (PowerPoint, handout)

Thu
Sep 20

Access and transfer hypotheses (PowerPoint, handout)

Read: White (2000), M&M, ch. 3, up to and including sec. 3.3.2, and sec. 3.5.

See also: Meisel (1997)

4

Tue
Sep 25

Verb movement: background and experiments (PowerPoint, handout) (Homework 2 key)

See also: White (1991, 1992), Schwartz & Gubala-Ryzak (1992), Trahey (1996)

Do: Homework 3 (due 9/27)

Thu
Sep 27

Binding theory, null subjects, and the ECP

(PowerPoint, handout)

See also: Al-Kasey and Pérez-Leroux (1998), MacLaughlin (1998), Kanno (1996).

5

Tue
Oct 2

More syntactic background, functional categories and minimalism (PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 3, sec. 3.3.3-3.4

See also: Prévost & White (1999, 2000)

Thu
Oct 4

Tree building, and UG/L2A wrapup

(PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 3, sec. 3.6

See also: Vainikka & Young-Scholten (1996a,b), Paradis et al. (1998)

6

Tue
Oct 9

no class today; Monday schedule

Thu
Oct 11

Functional/pragmatic perpectives

(PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 5

See also: Braidi (1999, ch. 6)

7

Tue
Oct 16

Cognitive approaches

(PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 4

See also: McLaughlin & Heredia (1996), Braidi (1999, ch. 5), Gass & Selinker (2001, ch. 8).

Thu
Oct 18

Language universals, issues of language typology

Introduction to language universals in L2A

(PowerPoint, handout)

See also: Eckman et al. (1989), Eckman (1985), Gass and Selinker (2001, ch. 6), Braidi (1999, ch. 4)

8

Tue
Oct 23

Noun phrase accessibility hierarchy

Guest speaker: Anna Do

Thu
Oct 25

Midterm exam (in class) (No lecture is planned, you may leave whenever you are finished. You may bring whatever you think would be helpful [notes, textbook, ...]. The test will cover primarily material discussed in class). Midterm preview. Midterm key.

9

Tue
Oct 30

Language mixing (code switching, code mixing)

(PowerPoint, handout)

See also: Bhatia & Ritchie (1999), Ritchie & Bhatia (1999).

Thu
Nov 1

Language attrition

The Nov 1 class will end early due to the memorial service for Ken Hale at MIT, 2pm.

See also: Seliger (1996), Sorace (2000), Platzack (2001).

10

Tue
Nov 6

Input and interaction, instruction

(week 1: PowerPoint, handout)

(week 2: PowerPoint, handout)

Read: M&M, ch. 6

See also: Long (1996), Gass (1997), Mackey (1999)

Thu
Nov 8

See also: Doughty (1991), Braidi (1995)

11

Tue
Nov 13

Neurolinguistics of bilingualism

(PowerPoint, handout) (note: PowerPoint presentation refers to quicktime movies (spinning brain and MEG) movie; there are local copies (spinning brain, MEG), use homework password to retrieve. Week 2: Slight additions (PowerPoint, handout)

Extra credit writeups from BUCLD due (11/13).

Read: O'Grady et al. (2001, ch. 13)

See also: Fabro (1999).

Thu
Nov 15

12

Tue
Nov 20

TBA

Thu
Nov 22

Fall recess; no class.

13

Tue
Nov 27

L2A of phonology

(PowerPoint, handout)

See also: Archibald (1998), Broselow & Finer (1991)

Thu
Nov 29

Pidgins and creoles and L2A

(PowerPoint, handout)

Read: Cook chapter. See also: Newport (1999), Bardovi-Harlig (1995)

14

Tue
Dec 4

Interlanguage pragmatics

(PowerPoint, handout)

See also: Gass & Selinker (2001, ch. 9), Ellis (1994, ch. 5), Kasper (1997).*

Thu
Dec 6

Wrap-up

(PowerPoint, handout)

Attempt at an integrated model: handout

Read: M&M, ch. 9, Gass & Selinker (2001, ch.14)

15

Tue
Dec 11

 

FINAL EXAM: Monday December 17, 12:30pm. (Covering an integrated view of the semester). Final preview.

*Jihyun Kwon's thesis proposal also provided helpful references and discussion for the preparation of this lecture.