Problems and Prospects in L2 Syntax Research within the Generative Framework

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of conceptual issues related to the hypotheses proposed in generative approaches to second language acquisition (GenSLA). Generative Grammar refers to an explicit grammatical system, wherein only explicitly defined theoretical mechanisms are assumed, and numerous highly falsifiable explanatory hypotheses have been proposed. After introducing some of these efforts, this paper critically examines the hypotheses put forward in GenSLA to date. In particular, it argues that many recent hypotheses tend to have a descriptive nature and fail to pursue deeper explanations. These hypotheses also suffer from fundamental issues, such as nonexplicit claims and lack of testability. Furthermore, taking the Representational Deficit Hypothesis and the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis as examples, the paper discusses the importance of constructing explicit explanatory hypotheses based on an appropriate linguistic theory for the observed descriptive generalizations.