ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the possible relevance of implicit memory for a related field, language acquisition. Noting that the relations between memory development in general and language development have been treated only intermittently, the chapter considers the mutual benefits that might accrue from exploring the involvement of implicit memory in language learning, I show that there are several respects in which implicit memory could subserve developmental psycholinguistic processes and progress. At the same time, I emphasize that applying the notion of implicit memory to a substantial content area exposes conceptual uncertainty as to the nature of implicit memory and its relationship to implicit processes. Recent work on language acquisition is drawn upon to propose that the structure and organizational constraints of implicit memory need to be examined in relation to the developmental status of the organism. It is concluded that both fields could profit form programmatic investigation of the role of implicit memory in language acquisition.
