Doctoral Dissertation Research: Binding Interpretations in Adult Bilingualism:

一项重要的研究表明，语言学习受到大脑预先确定的特性的限制，这种特性被称为普遍语法。虽然普遍语法在第一语言习得中的作用得到了承认，但普遍语法是否以及如何影响到其他语言的学习仍存在争议。本研究考察了普遍语法在两组双语者习得和维持较弱语言的过程中所起的作用。第一组是青春期后的韩语学习者，他们的母语是英语和汉语。第二个是由在英语和中文国家长大的说传统韩语的人组成的。对于这两个群体来说，韩语是较弱的语言，要么是因为它是较晚获得的语言，要么是因为它不是社区的主导语言。这个项目将集中在反身代词的分布和解释上。这三种语言共享一个重要的核心属性，但也有有趣的不同之处。通过研究说话者如何协商反身代词系统中的异同，研究者可以调查普遍语法在不同类型的双语者中的作用。

An important body of research shows that language learning is constrained by pre-determined properties of the brain, called Universal Grammar. While the role of Universal Grammar is accepted in the acquisition of first language, it is still controversial whether and how Universal Grammar is implicated in the learning of additional languages. This study examines the extent to which Universal Grammar is implicated in the acquisition and maintenance of the weaker language of two groups of bilinguals. The first group is composed of post-puberty learners of Korean who are native speakers of English and Chinese. The second is composed of heritage speakers of Korean who grew up in English and Chinese-speaking countries. For both groups, Korean is the weaker language, either because it is the language acquired late or because it is not the dominant language of the community. This project will focus on the distribution and interpretation of reflexive pronouns. The three languages share an important core of properties, but also differ in interesting ways. By investigating how the similarities and differences in the system of reflexive pronouns are negotiated by speakers, researchers can investigate the role of Universal Grammar in different types of bilinguals.