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Current Perspectives on Generative SLA - Processing, Influence, and Interfaces: Selected proceedings of the 16th Generative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition Conference
Edited by Marta Velnić, Anne Dahl and Kjersti Faldet Listhaug
[Language Acquisition and Language Disorders 70] 2024
► pp. 264–289

Chapter 11
“And yet it moves”

Finding a place for phonology in the GenSLA cosmos

| University of Victoria
The study of Lx phonology is under-represented in the GenSLA literature. I argue that this is largely because the complex learnability issues in the phonological domain have been under-appreciated. Drawing on examples from features and syllables, I illustrate that the acquisition of phonology is subject to poverty of the stimulus effects. Consequently, it follows that phonological representations are learned and not merely noticed in the environment. Furthermore, phonological grammars are shown to be generative, and hierarchical. By adopting abstract representational models we can both describe and explain learner behaviour. I explore the role of phonology in morphological and syntactic interfaces, and conclude with a discussion of real-world implications with regard to pronunciation training, and broader societal concerns.
Keywords: multilingual phonology, phonological represesentations, phonological features, poverty of the stimulus
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Phonology is generative
    • 1.2Phonology is learned (not noticed)
    • 1.3Phonology is hierarchical
  • 2.Learning phonology
    • 2.1The acquisition of features
    • 2.2Feature hierarchies
    • 2.3CH redeployment
  • 3.Holistic approaches
  • 4.Illusory vowels
  • 5.Structure and markedness
  • 6.Stress
  • 7.Interfaces
    • 7.1Phonology/morphology interface
    • 7.2Phonology/syntax interface
  • 8.Broadening circles
    • 8.1Pedagogic utility
    • 8.2Social justice
  • 9.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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