The Strengths and Weaknesses of Universal Grammar Theory and How Knowledge of Universal Grammar Theory Help in Language Teaching"

"The Strengths and Weaknesses of Universal Grammar Theory and How Knowledge of Universal Grammar Theory help in language teaching"

1.0 Introduction

Universal grammar as the general human ability to learn and use the language is assumed to be innate in the learners' mind (Chomsky, 1975:29); Cook, 1988:1: Haegeman, 1991:12; Safir, 1985:2). This is in line with the rationalist view to language learning which concludes that one cannot really teach language but can only present conditions for the learners to develop it in their mind. If this is related to second language acquisition research, there are still controversies on whether or not universal grammar (UG) is available to adult second language learners. According to Chomsky, Universal Grammar Theory is, by far, the strongest linguistic influence on SLA research in recent years. However, linguistic theory is not primarily concerned with SLA.

The proponents of the view that UG is no longer available to adult L2 learners argue that learning mechanism underlying adult L2 acquisition and L1 acquisition are radically different (e.g. Bley-Vroman, 1989; Clahsen, 1990; Clahsen and Muyshen, 1986; Schachter, 1988; Felix, 1987; see White, 1990 for further discussion). The evidence from Clahsen's study shows that embedded clauses are absent from the child's grammar at the earliest stage of L1 acquisition, while in the case of L2 acquisition, embedded clauses are present from the start. Schacter (1988) in White (1990) concludes that UG principles such as subjacency are no longer available to adult learners; while Felix (1987) in White (1990) bases his idea on Piagetian's cognitive learning strategies. He claims that the availability of additional learning strategies to adults blocks the functioning of UG which yields differences between L1 and L2 acquisition.

2.0 Methods

2.1 Instruments

This is a research-based essay based on five research articles and journals from education journals. The articles and...