The universal hypothesis proposes that all human languages share certain basic structural properties, called linguistic universals. According to this hypothesis, humans are born with an innate, universal grammar (UG) that contains a set of rules for language acquisition. The study of linguistic universals can help explain second language acquisition in two ways. First, it can identify which properties of the target language will be more or less difficult to acquire based on their status as linguistic universals. Second, it allows researchers to predict which differences between the first and second language will cause difficulties in acquisition and which will not.

1. THE UNIVERSAL
HYPOTHESIS
(Chomsky 1976, 1986)

2. Universal Grammar -UG-
• All languages have certain basic structures in common, these are called
universals.
• Grammar offer a certain limited number of possibilities
E.g. Word order
• 75% of the world’s languages use this order
SUBJECT
• Ella
• She
VERB
• come
• eats
OBJECT
• frutas
• fruits
L1
L2

3. LANGUAGE IS AN INNATE FACULTY
We are born with a set of rules about language in our heads.
• It’s wired into the brains
• UG: the system of principles, conditions, and rules that are elements or properties
of all human languages
• UG: is a theory of knowledge: its concern is with the internal structure of the
human mind.
• The nature of this knowledge is inseparable from the problem of how it is
acquired.

4. The studio of linguistic universal has
contributed to explanation of SLA in two ways.
• First: linguistic properties of the
Target Language (TL), the
language to be learned. May vary
according to the degree of effort
needed to acquire them.The
complexity of these language are
determinate by their condition as
universal.
• Second: linguistic language can
be used to predict which
differences lead to difficulty and
which ones do not.
La manzana grande
The big Apple

5. SWAIN’S OUTPUT
THESIS
The comprehensible thesis, developed by Merrill Swain, states that
learning takes place when encountering a ‘gap’ in the linguistic
knowledge of the L2.
Swain defines three functions of output:
 The noticing function
 The hypothesis-testing function
 The Metalinguistic function

6. • The noticing function: learners
encounter gaps between what they
want to stay and what they are able to
say and so they notice what they do not
know or only know partially in this
language.
• The hypothesis-testing function: when a
learner says something in the target language.
By uttering something, the learner test a
hypothesis and receives feedback from an
interlocutor. This feedback enables him, if
necessary.To reprocess his hypothesis.
E.g.:
She decided to leave home and now she must
paddle her own ________ .
E.g.:
She decided to leave home and now
she must paddle her own ________ .

7. • The Metalinguistic function: learners reflect on the language they learn and
hereby the output enables them to control and internalize linguistic
knowledge.