This course aims at introducing students to a wide range of theoretical assumptions and research data on second/foreign language acquisition and first language attrition (language loss) of various languages. Major subjects are the following: How does bilingualism influence language development and language retainment? How have several decades of research changed the claims about the concept of a critical period for language acquisition? How does the critical period relate to language attrition? How do different parameter settings across languages affect second/foreign language acquisition and the retainment of a native language? Is there a “native” interlanguage grammar or what are the limits of ultimate attainment for second/foreign languages? How much of a native language can we lose and what does this all tell us about the nature of the human language faculty?
A list of readings and references will be provided on StudIP shortly before the course begins.