C - Linguistic Models

Question 1

Contrastive analysis - system focus

Answer 1

Robert Lado (1957)

based  on  behaviorism 
stimulus-response-reinforcement  SRR 
positive  transfer  
— facilitation 
lenguajes —> languages 
— negative  transfer  = interference
lenguajes modernas —> modernS languages

Question 2

Contrastive Analysis

interference

Answer 2

same form and meaning, different distribution
- plural -s only on nouns in English, also on Adj in Spanish

same meaning, different form
- future in English and in German

same meaning, different form and distribution
- pepper in English can be N, Adj or V in German different forms

similar form, but only partial overlap in meaning
- Karte versus card, ticket, map

similar form, but different meaning (false friends)
- sensibel versus sensible

Question 3

same form and meaning, different distribution

Answer 3

-

Question 4

same meaning, different form and distribution

Answer 4

• pepper in English can be N, Adj or V in German different forms

Question 5

similar form, but only partial overlap in meaning

Answer 5

Karte versus card, ticket, map

Question 6

similar form, but different meaning (false friends)

Answer 6

• sensibel versus sensible

Question 7

interlanguage

Answer 7

individual’s distinctive and unique use of language, including speech. This unique usage encompasses vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation which has been developed by a learner of a second language (or L2) which….

• preserves some features of their first language (or L1), and
• can also overgeneralize some L2 writing and speaking rules.

These two characteristics of an interlanguage result in the system’s unique linguistic organization.

Question 8

morpheme order studies

Answer 8

the idea that in natural process there is natural order of learning.

Engl. L1
morpheme :
progressive -ing
plural -s
past  irregular
possessive articles 
past regular 
3 rd person  -s 
copula  be 
auxiliary  be

SL morphemes:

1. articles
2. copula be (e.g. she is smart)

Question 9

Universal Grammar

incl. criticism

Answer 9

Noam Chomsky

• competence and performance
• poverty of the stimulus argument
• modular language faculty (initial state)
• LAD
• innate structures
• principles and parameters
  — principle: head direction
  — parameter: head initial (English) versus head-final (Japanese)

criticism

• formalism
• innate structures cannot be proven or refuted
• poverty of the stimulus argument is not valid
• SLA application very unclear
• resetting of parameters not sufficiently explained

Question 10

Markedness Differentiation Hypothesis

Answer 10

• if a feature in L1 is unmarked and wants to learn in L2, but there it is marked, more difficult to learn
• easier, if marked in own lg and unmarked in L2

e.g. final decoicing (in german unmarked, in engl marked)

— concept of markedness tackles what was missing in contrastive analysis, the differentiation of what is more difficult than others