Variation

Suzanne Romaine
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Sources of Variation in SLA
3. Explanations for Internal
Variability
4. External Factors in Variation
5. Variability in Outcome

1. Introduction
Variability and interference/transfer
(contrastive analysis)
Sources other than cross linguistic
influence

INTERLANGUAGE
Variable learner systems of increasing
complexity that develop during the
process of acquiring a SL


2. Sources of Variation
in SLA
2.1 Systematic and
unsystematic variation
Systematic = rule-governed
He eats turkey.
John eat turkey.

Non-systematic = not conditioned by
any observable factors/rules (random)
No look my card / Dont look my card.
2.2 Internal and external
variation
Both internal and external factors
have effects in constraining the
occurrence of phonological or
grammatical variables
Internal = conditioned by linguistic
factors
External = conditioned by social
factors (class, age, style, ethnicity,
region, etc.)
2.3 Constraint hierarchies
Variable constraints can be ordered in a
hierarchy according to how great an
influence they exert on deletion

miss(ed) miss(ed) vs. mis(t)
missed train
Missed Alice

i.Monomorphemic > Bimorphemic
ii. Consonant (C) > Vowel (V)

3. Explanations for
Internal Variability
3.1 Markedness
Variability reflects universal principles of
markedness rather than simply the
influence of L1 and L2
e.g. t/d deletion


Constraints
morpheme
boundary
syllabic
mist + C u u
mist + V u m
miss+ed + C m u
miss+ed + V m m
2.3 Variation and change
Synchronic variation a stage in
long-term change
Linguistic change:
step-wise
from heavier to lighter environment
Heaviest Lightest
no morpheme b. morpheme b.
+ C + V
mis(t) mis missed miss
2.3 Variation and change
Dickerson on SLA (1975):
continuous change over time
series of transitions from one variety
to the next
each stage characterized by
systematicity
increase in the proportion of target
and target-like variants over time
3.3 Implications of
variation in developing
systems
SLA pidginization creolization
Less complex, more universal, less
marked forms emerging systems
ought to be similar

Acquisition is not dictated by the
TL, but by the constraints of the
developing interlanguage system
over time

3.4 Transfer
Study: SLA in German (Turkish, Yugoslav
vs. Portugese, Italian, Greek, Spanish)
Universal principles of pidginization +
positive/negative trandfer effects
Chomsky principles and parameters
all parameters are initialised at the
unmarked setting SL learner will first
adopt the unmarked form (irrespective of
L1)

4. External Factors in
Variation
4.1 Style/task-based
variation
Tarones interlanguage continuum



Unattended Grammatical
more pidgin-like intutition data
more TL-like


Vernacular
style
Careful
style
4.1 Style/task-based
variation
Pienemann: Steadiness Hypothesis

6 different tasks carried out by native
and non-native speakers

Fluctuations in correctness levels do
not relfect different levels of acquisition
but are brought about by the specific
lexical needs of the tasks
4. 2 Gender-based
variation
Gass and Varonis (1986):
Japanese learners of English
mixed/same-sex pairs
number of negotiations:
mixed>same
number of turns takes:
men>women
interruptions:
men>women



5. Variability in Outcome
5. Variability in Outcome
SLA: variation in final point and
speed CLA
fossilised structures, forms
no/little sociostylistic variation (only
with high degree of proficiency)
Conclusion
Sources of variability also other
than L1 transfer
External and internal factors
Variation in outcome