Language and the learning curve : a new theory of syntactic development
Ninio, AnatAuthor
Oxford : Oxford University Press,
2006.
Drawing on formal linguistic theory, cognitive psychology, and computational linguistics, and complexity theory, this volume takes the view that syntactic development is a simple process one that can be learned just like any other cognitive or motor skill.
Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
Drawing on formal linguistic theory, cognitive psychology, and computational linguistics, and complexity theory, this volume takes the view that syntactic development is a simple process one that can be learned just like any other cognitive or motor skill.
Description based on print version record.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction -- Valency -- Linguistic approaches to valency and syntactic structure -- Implication for acquisition : syntax is simple -- Developmental evidence : the earliest word combinations are syntactic mergers -- Conclusions : children learn to merge two words according to their valency --  The learning curve -- The learning curve in cognitive psychology -- Implication for acquisition : syntax should transfer right away -- Developmental evidence : learning curves and generalizations in early syntax -- Conclusions : lexical-specific syntactic frames facilitate others -- Lexicalism --The linguistic basis to lexicalism -- Implication for acquisition : no abstract schema formation -- Developmental evidence : no change in the form of syntactic schemas -- Conclusions : children learn a lexicalist syntax -- Similarity -- Similarity for transfer and generalization -- Implication for acquisition : no role for semantic linking in learning syntax -- Developmental evidence : no semantic effects in generalization and transfer -- Conclusions : children utilize similarity of form to organize the process of acquisition -- The growth of syntax -- The language web -- Implication for acquisition : learning means linking to the network -- Developmental evidence : children recreate the global features of the maternal network -- Conclusions : children join the language network.
Language acquisition
Grammar, Comparative and general
Philology & Linguistics
Languages & Literatures