Discusses the motivation for Universal Grammar (UG), as assumed in the principles and parameters framework of generative grammar (Chomsky, 1981), focusing on the logical problem of first-language acquisition and the potential role of UG in second-language acquisition. Recent experimental research regarding the second-language status of the…

Discusses the treatment of Chinese word order in major theoretical works, reference grammars, and textbooks. Guidelines for teachers to give first year students include: 1)predominant Chinese word order is SVO; 2) SOV and OSV word orders are permissible but used for contrastive purposes; and 3) only certain forms are permissible for SOV and OSV.…

The articles in this volume are an overview of work in a number of subjects and disciplines which contribute to the field of applied linguistics and language teaching. Specifically, they treat universal properties common to all languages, the historical developments and central issues in speech act theory, speech research on the various stages of…