English Syllabic-Lateral Acquisition: An Analysis Via Stochastic Optimality Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-4301.2014.2.17920Keywords:
Linguistic variation, Stochastic Optimality Theory, L2 Acquisition.Abstract
This paper seeks mainly to propose a grammatical model capable of describing and explaining the acquisition process of the English syllabic lateral by Brazilian learners. We aim to answer the following questions: 1) What grammar is being acquired? More specifically: what grammar allows the form [ɫ̩] to emerge as an output in L1 English (as well as its variants)? 2) What are the main stages through which the interlanguage grammar of a Brazilian learner goes in trying to acquire [ɫ̩]? 3) How to explain variation in the interlanguage throughout the acquisition process? Is it possible to predict what forms will emerge during the acquisition process along with their frequencies and set the limits for variability? In order to answer these questions, we have made use of the Stochastic version of Optimality Theory and its Gradual Learning Algorithm (BOERSMA & HAYES, 2001). Our model has been based on and tested by empirical data collected in a study of ours and those of others.Downloads
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