Faria, P. (2009) Propriedades das línguas naturais e o processo de aquisição: reflexões a partir da implementação do modelo em Berwick (1985). Dissertação de Mestrado (master’s thesis) — Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brasil.

Abstract: The main goal of this MA thesis is to discuss some properties of language and its acquisition process, taking as a starting point some issues that emerged during the implementation of the acquisition model proposed by Berwick (1985). Our general theoretical framework is the Generative Grammar – as proposed in Chomsky’s works – and, in particular, the Transformational Grammar model (Cf. CHOMSKY, 1965). Some of the language properties discussed here involve: the set of distinctive features for lexical items, the asymmetry between specifiers and complements, empty categories and the role of thematic information in syntax. The subjacent idea surrounding the reections on language is the search for a more abstract view of the grammatical knowledge such that some of the theoretical devices can be revised or even abandoned. Two main goals drive this effort: first, the elimination of some significant obstacles in the parser’s task to analyze sentences. Second, the elimination of those devices for which we cannot find proper evidence for their acquisition, considering the learner’s perspective. In order to pursue these goals, in the first part of this work we set out the theoretical background for the whole discussion and give a somewhat detailed presentation of Berwick’s acquisition model and examples of its functioning. In the second part we include a discussion of the results upon which the reection is built, whereby we point out some ways not only to increase the robustness of the acquisition model, but also to raise questions for further research in grammatical theory. In this sense, this work – which pertains to an interdisciplinary field, i.e, computational linguistics – tries to make explicit the contributions that this kind of investigation can offer to linguistic theory.