ABSTRACT
Linguistics has impacted research in SLA since the early days of the development of the field, with many linguistic theories having had some relevance. In this chapter, we deal with what are known as formal approaches. By this is meant an approach that takes language form as its subject matter. Specifically, the focus is on the learner’s linguistic system (or competence). A formal linguistic theory is used to describe that system. There are a number of such theories that have attempted to do this, but L2 research has focused primarily on generative linguistic theory and, more specifically, on Universal Grammar, the most well-known of generative theories. Within formal approaches, areas such as pragmatics and other social constraints are not the focus of study. This does not mean that those working within this paradigm deny the importance of these areas; they are just not areas of focus. The main focus of attention in this chapter is on generative approaches to morphosyntax and on phonology; typo - logical universals are discussed in Chapter 9.
