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Ad Minorem Theoriae Gloriam

A Response to Eubank and Gregg

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2008

John H. Schumann
John H. Schumann
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Extract

Eubank and Gregg (1995) claim that “Jacobs and Schumann wish to deny the existence of UG” (p. 42). This statement presupposes the existence of Universal Grammar (UG). However, Jacobs, Schumann, and Pulvermuller see the existence of UG and its possible neural substrate as an empirical issue and, therefore, are free to explore it, examine it, and question it. If it were demonstrated that there were, in fact, no UG, it would do great violence to Eubank and Gregg's theory. However, if it were demonstrated that UG did exist, Jacobs, Schumann, and Pulvermüller could easily accommodate this fact in their positions. Jacobs (1988) and Jacobs and Schumann (1992) point out some neural arguments against UG; Pulvermuller and Schumann (1994) actually argue for a neural specialization for grammar but not specifically a UG, and Schumann (1993, 1994) examines differential success in second language acquisition by assuming a highly canalized, neural basis for grammar.

Type
Responses
Information
Studies in Second Language Acquisition , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 59 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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References

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