Variability in Production is the Rule, Not the Exception, at the Onset of Multi-Word Speech

ABSTRACT

The first stage of combinatorial speech is better described as variable than uniform. Talk of variants obscures two different aspects of language (knowledge and use) and two different aspects of language development – acquisition of the grammar (competence) and deployment of the grammar in speaking and listening (performance). Null subjects and Determiners are examples in English of early variability. The limited data in other languages make it impossible to make sweeping claims about early acquisition.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ Notice that this complementizer is syntactically obligatory, because of the placement of the adjunct for the moment.