19 November: DCLRS -- Friday, November 23, Martin Atkinson

Dublin Computational Linguistics Research Seminar: Index of November 2001 | Dublin Computational Linguistics Research Seminar - Index of year: 2001 | Full index


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| Dublin Computational Linguistics Research Seminar |
| DCLRS 2001/2002 |
| DCU TCD UCD |
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venue: Joly Lecture Theatre, Hamilton Building,
Trinity College
time: 4:00-6:00, Friday, November 23
speaker: Martin Atkinson
University of Essex


title: "Minimalism and First Language Acquisition"


abstract:

Since the beginning of the 1990s, Chomsky and his
associates have developed an approach to the theory of
language known as the Minimalist Programme. Up to
Chapter 4 of The Minimalist Programme (Chomsky, 1995),
it was tempting to see this approach as embodying
little more than an explicit and uncontroversial
commitment to methodological minimalism,
i.e. derivations should not contain redundant
unnecessary steps, representations should not contain
gratuitous constructs, etc. However, beginning with
Chapter 4, and continuing through Minimalist Inquiries
(1998), Derivation by Phase (1999) and Beyond
Explanatory Adequacy (2001), Chomsky has made it
transparently clear that he is committed to examining
the plausibility of substantive minimalism, the view
that the language faculty, the object of linguistic
study, is itself perfect, a quite different
proposition to that which maintains that theories
should strive for parsimony, elegance, etc. In
Chomsky: Ideas and Ideals (1999), Neil Smith reports
Chomsky as believing that this is the most interesting
idea he has ever had! In the first part of this
paper, I set out my understanding of the view of the
language faculty suggested by the minimalist
approach. With this in place, the second part of the
paper briefly sets out the case for the correctness of
minimalism being compatible with a discontinuous view
of first language acquisition, a view which contrasts
with the dominant Full Competence Hypothesis, as
presented in the work of Ken Wexler and his
associates.



afters:

If you would like to join in the dinner after the talk
(c. 7:30pm) please notify Carl Vogel (vogel@tcd.ie) to
be included in a reservation.


The Dublin Computational Linguistics Research Seminar series is run
jointly by DCU (Dublin City University), TCD (Trinity College Dublin)
and UCD (University College Dublin).

The 2001/2002 seminar series is hosted by Trinity College with the
support of the Department of Computer Science, the Centre for Language
and Communication Studies, the Department of Germanic Studies, the
School of Irish, the Department of French and the Centre for Computing
and Language Studies.

For an indication of parts of recent seminar contents, see:
http://www.cs.tcd.ie/research_groups/clg/DCLRS.html

Dublin Computational Linguistics Research Seminar - Index of November 2001 | Index of year: 2001 | Full index