Universal Grammar in Second Language Acquisition: A History (review)
Larry LaFond
Reviewed by: Universal grammar in second language acquisition: A history by Margaret Thomas Larry LaFond history. By Thomas. London: Routledge, 2004. Pp. 262. ISBN 0415310377. $105 (Hb). In this book, asserts that although a number of concepts surrounding both universal (UG) and acquisition (SLA) have emerged different forms for many centuries, most contemporary linguistic researchers approach the study UG SLA with profound lack historical consciousness. type ‘programmatic ahistoricity’, as T names it, arises from conventional assumption discussions or need not seriously consider anything written earlier than mid-twentieth century. takes exception assumption, her book is defense position L2 theory has detrimentally truncated its own an attempt to show value studying contributions these areas. Ch. 1, ‘Introduction’, provides working definitions SLA, discusses few caveats presentation, presents justification emphasizing benefits achieving self-awareness. 2, ‘Ancient Greece Rome’, argues Greek thought foundational only Western linguistics general, but also specifically UG. Regarding ancient Rome, notes Roman investment bilingualism comparison languages, highlights Marcus Terentius Varro’s declinatio, which she views one first assertions universals. 3, ‘Language learning Late Antiquity Carolingian Renaissance’, role Christianity extending scope learning, institutionalizing instruction, creating normative grammatical tradition some assumptions, quite those today, about universality language. 4, ‘The Middle Ages’, emergence grammatica speculativa syntactic theories west. Its counterpart, positiva, identified teaching representing separation between theorizing teaching, points connectedness two, when speculative grammarians used data their characteristics grammar. 5, ‘From discovery particular seventeenth-century languages’, swinging pendulum concerns universal, whose ‘point suspension (is) fixed’ (102). 6, ‘General through nineteenth century’, focuses on Cartesian degree Noam Chomsky’s proposals are indebted it. 7, ‘Conceptualization twentieth records how century grew scale specialization, building broader base reflecting more creatively data. Finally, 8, ‘Afterword’, revisits question engaging inquiry concerning reasserting enterprise. Overall, highly accessible, interesting, important contribution discussion SLA. It will be interest linguists students who interested theoretical implications acquisition. Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Copyright © 2006 Linguistic Society America
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