ABSTRACT
Processability Theory (PT) (e.g., Pienemann, 1998) is a theory of second language development. The logic underlying PT is the following: At any stage of development the learner can produce and comprehend only those second language (L2) linguistic forms which the current state of the language processor can handle. It is therefore crucial to understand the architecture of the language processor and the way in which it handles an L2. This enables one to predict the course of development of L2 linguistic forms in language production and comprehension across languages.
