Previous Acquisition Literature

Abstract

As was mentioned in the Introduction, the theory of Universal Grammar proposes that children are constrained by a set of language specific principles that constitute the initial state of the language faculty. These principles, plus experience, are proposed to guide a language learner in attaining a steady state, the grammar of their language. Then it is reasonable to expect that these principles should be reflected in the hypotheses children entertain during early intermediate states of the formulation of their grammar. Controlled experiments on first language development, designed to test specific hypotheses that children might be entertaining, are a possible way of capturing a reflection of the structure of the initial state, and how it guides hypothesis formation.