LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 18:6 June 2018
ISSN 1930-2940

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Acquisition of L2 English Article Semantic by
L1 Tamil Speakers in Malaysia

Premala Jacob, M.Ed., Ph.D. Research Student & Helen Tan, Ph.D.

Abstract

Ionin (2003) proposes the Article Choice Parameter, a semantic parameter which establishes that articles across languages encode two values which are definiteness or specificity. The English articles are based on definiteness but the Tamil language lacks articles. This study examined the pattern of article choice among adult L1 Tamil speakers in Malaysia, to test Ionin’s (2003) Fluctuation Hypothesis based on the Article Choice Parameter. The Fluctuation Hypothesis reveals that L2 English learners from article-less L1s upon encountering a language that has an article system access both the definiteness and specificity parameter provided by Universal Grammar (UG) and exhibit fluctuation between the two settings. As a result, they perform accurately in the [+definite, +specific] and [-definites, -specific] when both the settings are the same and overuse the with [-definites, +specific] and overuse a with [+ definite, -specific] when both the settings are in conflict. The results of this study revealed that the L1 Tamil speakers had UG access to both the definiteness and specificity settings, as their pattern of English article choice demonstrated fluctuation between the two settings. Article omission error among these learners indicated limited negative-L1 transfer also existed in the article acquisition process.

Keywords: Article; semantic; definiteness; Fluctuation Hypothesis; Tamil

1.0 Introduction

The process of second language acquisition (SLA) looks at the stages involved in acquiring a different language after the native language has been acquired (Gass & Selinker, 2009, p.7). In the Malaysian context, this is most commonly discussed in relation to the learning and teaching of the English language. The nativist approach claims that language learning involves innateness, that is, humans have a natural ability to systematically be conscious of the language around them. In recent years the nativist theory has become more dependent on the idea of Universal Grammar(UG). UG is a system of universal linguistic rules that are genetically determined in every human being since they are born (Brown, 2000, pp. 24-25). UG refers to “the system of principles, conditions, and rules that are elements or properties of all human languages…the essence of human language” (Chomsky,1975, p.29).

According to this theory, all human languages consist of a set of basic abstract principles of grammar that is applicable to all languages and parameters which vary according to languages (Cook, 1997, pp. 250-251). The theory encompasses the idea that language acquirers do not have to learn these basic principles because humans have an innate ability, which is derived from the UG, to discover these basic abstract principles that are common to all languages. On the other hand, parameters are differences across languages. These differences are encoded in UG. L1 learners, through the language input, will be able to establish the most suitable parameter. Input data will lead the learner to the most appropriate parameter setting so that the learner is able to achieve proficiency in the language being acquired.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Premala Jacob, M.Ed., Ph.D. Research Student (corresponding author)
Department of English Language
Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia
premala.jacob@yahoo.com.my

Dr. Helen Tan, Ph.D.
Department of English Language
Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia
helen@upm.edu.my

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