The Universal

Hypothesis
Linguistic Universals and L1 Transfer -Liceras: Learners carry over marked constructions
from the L1 to the L2.
-What is Marked and unmarked? Linguistic rules:
Unmarked-Core rules, easy to acquire. Marked-d
Periphery rules, difficult to learn.
-Markedness Theory. Explain why some differences Some Problems with the Universal Hypothesis
between L1 and L2 lead to difficulty. 1. Linguistic
universals must be
The Transfer of L1 Unmarked Forms seen to have
psycholinguistic
-Zobl: Learners falls back on his L1 validity if they are
knowledge when the L2 rule is to be treated as a
obscure. determinant of
-Causes- of Obscurity: If L2 is SLA.
typologically inconsistent or 2. The distinction
there is typological between acquisition
Indeterminacy. and development.
-Eckman: Transfer effects 3. Chomskys
are most in evidence when poverty of the
L1 setting is unmarked and stimulus
the L2 setting marked. argument.
Where the L1 pattern 4. The cavalier attitude
corresponds with a universal to markedness.
developmental stage in SLA, 5. Competence by
the learner may proceed to Chomsky.
that stage faster than
learners whose L1s do not
have the pattern. Summary

The Non-transfer of L1 -Learners find easier to

Marked Forms acquire patterns
conformed to linguistic
-Kellerman: Learners tends to universals that those that
avoid one-to-one do not.
correspondences between the L1 -Where L1 manifests
and L2 when meanings are linguistic universals,
considered far from prototypical,
even though error can result.
its likely to assist interlanguage development -Language acquisition proceeds by mastering the
through transfer. unmarked properties before the marked ones.
-Some rules are weakly marked (unmarked) and others -When the L2 rule is marked, the learner will turn to his
more strongly marked (marked). L1 equivalent unmarked rule.
Universidad Autnoma del Estado de Hidalgo - Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades - rea Acadmica
de Lingstica Licenciatura en Enseanza de la Lengua Inglesa 3er Semestre Adquisicin de una Lengua -
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