Learning Japanese As a Second Language — A Processability Perspective

Processability theory (PT) is a universal, cognitive linguistic theory of second language acquisition. Citing a lack of research into the applicability of PT to typologically head-last, SOV (subject-object-verb) languages, Kawaguchi (Japanese and linguistics, U. of Western Sydney, Australia) presents a study testing PT-generated hypotheses regarding the acquisition of Japanese morphosyntax by speakers of first languages typologically distant from Japanese. Following a general introduction in chapter 1, chapter 2 includes an overview of the history of second language acquisition theory, a description of the speech processing framework and grammatical formalization underlying PT, and a review of prior relevant studies concerning the acquisition of Japanese as a second language. Chapter 3 describes Japanese morphosyntactic characteristics and offers PT-based predictions relating to the influence of first languages on early stages of Japanese acquisition. Methodologies utilized in the longitudinal and cross-sectional studies are discussed in chapter 4, followed by a presentation of results in chapter 5 and study summary in chapter 6. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)