An Operational Definition of the Emergence Criterion

Abstract

Although acquisition criteria are a fundamental issue for SLA research, they have not always been adequately defined or elaborated in the literature. This article critically scrutinizes one such criterion, the emergence criterion, proposing an explicit, operational definition. After discussing emergence as a theoretical construct, the article addresses several points involved in its operationalization. These points concern all stages of a research project, from data collection to data organization and analysis. A concrete example is provided, leading to the formulation of an emergence criterion for the acquisition of two grammatical structures of Italian as a second language. Issues of reliability and validity are also discussed, providing indications for future research.

Acquisition Sequences and Definition of Linguistic Categories~!2008-03-31~!2008-10-08~!2008-12-03~!

“…In this article acquisition orders will be based on the notion of emergence, defined as 'the first systematic and productive use of a structure' [25] (p. 366). The terms themselves appearing in the definition need to be clearly defined (for a broader discussion see [25]).…”

“…The terms themselves appearing in the definition need to be clearly defined (for a broader discussion see [25]). By 'linguistic structure', at least in inflectional morphology, we mean an association between a phonological form and a grammatical function [42].…”

“…Operational definitions of emergence vary too, ranging from the presence of one single token [24] to more stringent requirements, such as a minimum number of tokens and/or lexical and morphological variability (e.g. [12,16,25]). Hatch and Faraday [26] have shown that different operational definitions of acquisition criteria, such as placing the accuracy threshold at 60 or 80%, lead to different acquisition orders.…”

“…Hatch and Faraday [26] have shown that different operational definitions of acquisition criteria, such as placing the accuracy threshold at 60 or 80%, lead to different acquisition orders. More recently, Pallotti [25] has critically discussed the emergence construct, similarly showing that various ways of operationalizing it may lead to slight differences in acquisition sequences and emphasizing the need for explicit, reliable operational definitions based on a theoretical analysis of the constructs involved.…”

Systematicity and Variability in over time IL development: Developmental Sequences in the acquisition of order within VPs in English as a Foreign Language

“…Odisea, n º 11, ISSN 1578-3820, 2010, 59-83 (1994), Sharwood Smith and Truscott (2005 draw attention to the unreliability of using accuracy percentages as an acquisition criterion to establish a hierarchy in the acquisition of forms or structures. Pallotti (2007) brings this reanalysis a step beyond and surveys the differences in percentages that have been used in various studies. In addition to the 60% in the aforementioned study by Vainikka and Young-Scholten, he adds a 75% in Ellis (1989), an 80% in Andersen (1978), and a 90% in Burt (1974) andin Bahns (1983).…”