Revisiting Universal Grammar in L2 acquisition: Weak conformity and linguistic dissonance resolution.
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| Title: | Revisiting Universal Grammar in L2 acquisition: Weak conformity and linguistic dissonance resolution. |
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| Authors: | Kimura, Takayuki1 (AUTHOR) tkmr32@gmail.com |
| Source: | Second Language Research. Jul2026, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p547-565. 19p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Second language acquisition, *Interlanguage (Language learning), *Generative grammar, Philosophy of language, Feature selection |
| Abstract: | This article explores the role of Universal Grammar (UG) in second language (L2) acquisition. Drawing on the weak conformity hypothesis (WCH), which posits that developing interlanguage grammars may temporarily deviate from UG but ultimately conform to it, the article proposes that UG functions as a linguistic dissonance resolution device (LDRD). In this framework, UG becomes active when learners adopt UG-incompatible rules or 'wild grammars' in their interlanguage, working to revise these inconsistencies so that they align with UG constraints. In contrast to standard assumptions, I argue that L2 learners do not necessarily explore only within UG bounds. Rather, UG plays a monitoring role: It detects UG-inconsistent rules and triggers revision. Such revisions can occur when feature selection or feature reassembly is required, as long as wild grammars are present in the learner's interlanguage grammar. As addressed in this article, this account makes novel predictions about which features are acquirable or reconfigurable and which are not. Thus, the UG-as-LDRD proposal not only offers a potential solution to the poverty-of-the-stimulus problem in L2 acquisition, but also provides a broader explanatory scope that may surpass that of existing generative L2 hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Second Language Research is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 194895241 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Revisiting Universal Grammar in L2 acquisition: Weak conformity and linguistic dissonance resolution. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kimura%2C+Takayuki%22">Kimura, Takayuki</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> tkmr32@gmail.com</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Second+Language+Research%22">Second Language Research</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 42 Issue 3, p547-565. 19p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+language+acquisition%22">Second language acquisition</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interlanguage+%28Language+learning%29%22">Interlanguage (Language learning)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Generative+grammar%22">Generative grammar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Philosophy+of+language%22">Philosophy of language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feature+selection%22">Feature selection</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This article explores the role of Universal Grammar (UG) in second language (L2) acquisition. Drawing on the weak conformity hypothesis (WCH), which posits that developing interlanguage grammars may temporarily deviate from UG but ultimately conform to it, the article proposes that UG functions as a linguistic dissonance resolution device (LDRD). In this framework, UG becomes active when learners adopt UG-incompatible rules or 'wild grammars' in their interlanguage, working to revise these inconsistencies so that they align with UG constraints. In contrast to standard assumptions, I argue that L2 learners do not necessarily explore only within UG bounds. Rather, UG plays a monitoring role: It detects UG-inconsistent rules and triggers revision. Such revisions can occur when feature selection or feature reassembly is required, as long as wild grammars are present in the learner's interlanguage grammar. As addressed in this article, this account makes novel predictions about which features are acquirable or reconfigurable and which are not. Thus, the UG-as-LDRD proposal not only offers a potential solution to the poverty-of-the-stimulus problem in L2 acquisition, but also provides a broader explanatory scope that may surpass that of existing generative L2 hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Second Language Research is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1177/02676583251353389 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 547 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Second language acquisition Type: general – SubjectFull: Interlanguage (Language learning) Type: general – SubjectFull: Generative grammar Type: general – SubjectFull: Philosophy of language Type: general – SubjectFull: Feature selection Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Revisiting Universal Grammar in L2 acquisition: Weak conformity and linguistic dissonance resolution. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kimura, Takayuki IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02676583 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 42 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Second Language Research Type: main |
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