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Article published In: Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 9:1/2 (2020) ► pp.21–37

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Proximate and ultimate explanations of individual differences in language use and language acquisition

 | University of Amsterdam
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Available under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license.

For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.

Published online: 6 April 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/dujal.19027.hul
Abstract
I evaluate three schools in linguistics (structuralism; generative linguistics; usage based linguistics) from the perspective of Karl Popper’s critical rationalism. Theories (providing proximate explanations) may be falsified at some point in time. In contrast, metatheories, such as Darwin’s theory of evolution and the theory of Language as a Complex Adaptive System (LCAS) (providing ultimate explanations) are falsifiable in principle, but not likely to be falsified. I then argue that LCAS provides a fruitful framework for the explanation of individual differences in language acquisition and use. Unequal frequency distributions of linguistic elements constitute a necessary characteristic of language production, in line with LCAS. However, explaining individual differences implies explaining commonalities ( (2015). Language proficiency in native and non-native speakers: Theory and research. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, (2019). An individual-differences framework for comparing nonnative with native speakers: Perspectives from BLC Theory. Language Learning, 691, Supplement 11, 157–183. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). While attributes such as people’s level of education and profession are visible in knowledge of the standard language (declarative knowledge acquired in school), they may be invisible in the spoken vernacular (linguistic cognition shared by all native speakers).
Article outline
  • 1.Proximate and ultimate explanations in linguistics and psychology
    • 1.1Three paradigms in linguistics and psychology
    • 1.2Popper (1902–1994): Critical rationalism
    • 1.3Chomsky: Generative linguistics
    • 1.4Usage-based linguistics
    • 1.5Theory and metatheory: Proximate and ultimate explanations
  • 2.Explaining individual differences under the view of LCAS
    • 2.1Basic and extended language cognition
    • 2.2Vernacular versus standard language
    • 2.3Individual differences work out differently in control of the vernacular and in control of the standard language
    • 2.4Language assessment
  • 3.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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