SIMPLIFICATION, TRANSFER, AND RELEXIFICATION AS ASPECTS OF PIDGINIZATION AND EARLY SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION1

Abstract

Schumann (1978) argues that the simplification (i.e., general absence of inflectional morphology and grammatical transformations) found in the early stages of second language acquisition (SLA) reflects pidginization. Gilbert and Mack (1979) argue that the early stages of SLA are characterized by native language (NL) transfer and relexification but not by pidginization.Since there is no consensus among pidginists as to what constitutes pidginization (Washabaugh and Eckman 1980), it is impossible for researchers in SLA to rely on them for a definition of the process. Therefore SLA researchers must take an active role in the development of an accurate definition. In this paper I suggest that pidginization be seen as SLA under conditions of restricted input (Bickerton 1977) or restricted intake. Learners attempting to use a second language under such conditions will perform within the constraints of the general principle, Keep L2 output simple, and its corollary, Maintain your NL to whatever extent possible. From this perspective, the simplification reported by Schumann and the NL transfer and relexification reported by Gilbert and Mack are all proper characteristics of pidginization. The general principle accounts for simplification and the corollary accounts for NL transfer and relexification.In support of this view, evidence is presented from both longitudinal and cross‐sectional studies of SLA by Spanish and Japanese learners of English.