This paper examines the question of aspect in Russian, never fully mastered by the non-native speaker. Definitions are not found to be adequate pedagogical tools; the difficulty seems to stem from the notion of binariness. Perfectivity in verbs stems from the concurrence of two features, rather than a single criterion. (CHK)

Evaluates the cumulative evidence on the use of syntactic complexity measures as indices of college-level second language writers' overall proficiency in the target language. Discusses implications of the findings for further research. (Author/VWL)

Investigates the acquisition of Spanish word order by native speakers of English. Specifically considers the development of sensitivity to the distinct interpretations of subject-verb vs. verb-subject order as determined by lexical verb class and discourse structure. (Author/VWL)

Discusses the role of frequency in phonological reduction. Argues that phonological alternations provide evidence for the size and nature of morphosyntactic chunks. The phonological shape of words provides evidence that categorization is not completely exemplar based, but rather involves some abstraction resembling the construction of a prototype.…

Discusses key points raised in the articles in this special issue of the journal. Suggests progress is being made in using complementary theories of the role of lexical representation, prediction, and crosslinguistic variation to get a full picture of this complex area of lexico-morhposyntactic knowledge. (Author/VWL)

A study observed a significant curvilinear relationship between speaking rates and accentedness and comprehensibility judgments of utterances produced by users from a variety of first language backgrounds. A second study manipulated rates with speech compression-expansion software established that this effect was due to the rate differences rather…

Focuses on two unrelated matters that are central to the study of how language acquisition works: (1) the role of input in the acquisition of a first language, particularly how children are able to avoid the potentially damaging effects of misleading feedback; and (2) the role of a particular aspect of cognition in second language learning, namely…

Argues that a Universal Grammar (UG)-based analysis for the three stages of NEG-placement is not only possible, but in fact provides independent support for UG-based analyses of the developmental sequence found in first-language Romance language and second-language German verb placement. (41 references) (GLR)

Analyzes the ways in which second language learners of Spanish and native speakers of Spanish deal with relative and complement clauses in writing. The few differences between beginners' and advanced students' skills raised questions regarding the degree to which foreign language writing instruction focuses on the development of syntactic…

Details six major research findings regarding second-language acquisition, including transitional stages for acquiring syntax; fixed-order emergence of grammatical morphemes; language acquisition progress from unmarked to marked elements; first-language influence; rule-governed learner output; and learner access to input. (27 references) (CB)

One possible criticism of formal syntactic theory is that it is based on a philosophy and a set of metaphors that appear superseded even in the physical sciences where they were developed. Borrowing again from the physical sciences, this paper argues for linguistic theory with a philosophical basis in interrelatedness. (39 references) (Author/VWL)

Analyzes Scientific English for nonnative speakers, in particular Italians, and points out the principal areas of difficulty. (CFM)

The studies presented here represent an attempt to determine which of several alterations to the input directed to second-language learners affect comprehensibility. The first study manipulated both speed and syntax, and the second study examined the introduction of pauses into the input. (JL)

Reviews current research in three domains of bilingual acquisition: pragmatic features of bilingual code mixing, grammatical constraints on child bilingual code mixing, and bilingual syntactic development. Examines implications from these domains for the understanding of the limits of the mental faculty to acquire language. (Author/VWL)

Examines differences in metalinguistic development between monolingual and bilingual children in terms of three subcategories: word awareness, syntactic awareness, and phonological awareness. In each case, some studies have reported advantages for bilingual children, while others have found either no difference between the groups or monolingual…