LINGUIST List 11.2390

Sat Nov 4 2000

Books: Neurolinguistics, SLA (Arabic)

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. LINCOM EUROPA, Neurolinguistics: Challenges in the investigation of cerebral function
2. LINCOM EUROPA, SLA (Arabic): Grammatical Markedness and Information Processing...

Challenges in the investigation of cerebral function:
Neuroanatomical substrates of language processing

MARCELLO CHERCHI 
The University of Illinois at Chicago
College of Medicine

Since early in its development the field of neurology has been concerned
with the mechanisms which mediate language. Although the brain presents
a number of unique challenges to investigators, considerable progress
has been made in neurophysiological techniques and imaging technology.
The present paper begins with a discussion of some of the properties of
the brain which render its investigation difficult, followed by an
overview of several of the methods which are employed to study brain
structure and function. 
We then proceed to a specific discussion of the neuroanatomical
structures which are believed to mediate language processing and the
variety of disorders that result from lesions to these structures. 
After a brief note concerning how these arguments can be evaluated we
shall comment on how information and evidence from neurology can
contribute to the study of linguistics. The final section presents a
summary and draws conclusions.

ISBN 3 89586 424 2. 
LINCOM Studies in Neurolinguistics 01.
60pp. USD 29.50 / DM 49.30 / � 17.30.
 

New: A Students' and course discount of 40% is offered to the above
 title. 

Ordering information for individuals: Please give us your creditcard no.
/ expiry date. Prices in this information include shipment worldwide by
airmail. A standing order for this series is available with special
discounts offered to individual subscribers.

Free copies of LINCOM's new catalogue for 2001 (project line 11) are
available from LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.

LINCOM EUROPA, Freibadstr. 3, D-81543 Muenchen, Germany;
FAX +49 89 62269404;
http://www.lincom-europa.com
LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.

Grammatical Markedness and Information Processing in the Acquisition of
Arabic as a Second Language

FETHI MANSOURI 
Deakin University

This book presents a comprehensive investigation into the acquisition
of Arabic as a second language. It has two primary objectives: first
to establish the developmental sequence for the acquisition of Arabic
interlanguage morphology and syntax; second to investigate
cross-linguistically certain claims and principles proposed in
Pienemann's (1998) Processability theory. This second objective is
particularly important as it explores issues of language processing
and language development (Clahsen 1984; Pienemann 1998) in a second
language acquisition (SLA) context where the target language (Arabic)
is typologically different to those languages previously investigated,
in particular, English, German and Spanish. The main research
questions stem from: Processability-related SLA research (Pienemann
1994, 1998; Johnston 1995; Andersen 1991); Arabic L1 research (Omar
1973); and Arabic SLA research (Al-Buanain 1987; Mansouri 1995, 1997).
With regard to the morpho-syntactic predictions generated through
Processability-related research, the findings of this study are
consistent with those reported by Pienemann (1994) and Johnston (1995)
on the acquisition of German and Spanish respectively. However, the
findings that relate to interlanguage morphology are less consistent
with the Processability-generated predictions.




Table of Contents: 
Introduction

Chapter 1: Description of the Arabic language
 Diglossia in Arabic 
	 Linguistic description 
	 Verbal morphology
 Phrasal agreement 
	 Inter-phrasal agreement 
	 Linguistic theory adopted in this study 
	 Lexical Functional Grammar

Chapter 2: Review of the relevant literature
	 Arabic L1 studies 
	 Arabic L2 studies 
	 Cross-linguistic studies on the acquisition of morpho-syntax

Chapter 3: Theoretical framework 
	 Historical perspective on SLA theories 
	 Theoretical considerations 
	 A Processability approach 
	 Lexical Functional Grammar revisited 
	 Research questions and hypotheses 

Chapter 4: Data-generated acquisition stages 
	 Acquisition stages for interlanguage syntax 
 Acquisition stages for interlanguage morphology
 Research questions in light of the overall findings

Chapter 5: Theoretical discussion 
 The Processability approach in light of the findings of this study
 Teachability issues

Chapter 6: Conclusion
 Theoretical implications of the studys findings 

References

Appendices




ISBN 2 89586 952 X.
LINCOM Studies in Language Acquisition 02.
Ca. 260pp. USD 65 / DM 120 / � 40.

New: A Students' and course discount of 40% is offered to the above
 title. 

Ordering information for individuals: Please give us your creditcard no.
/ expiry date. Prices in this information include shipment worldwide by
airmail. A standing order for this series is available with special
discounts offered to individual subscribers.

Free copies of LINCOM's new catalogue for 2001 (project line 11) are
available from LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.

LINCOM EUROPA, Freibadstr. 3, D-81543 Muenchen, Germany;
FAX +49 89 62269404;
http://www.lincom-europa.com
LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.