The Bottleneck Hypothesis updated

Abstract

The Bottleneck Hypothesis identifies parts of the grammar that are easier or moredifficult to acquire in a second language. It argues that the functionalmorphology is the bottleneck in L2 acquisition because it bundles a variety ofsemantic, syntactic & phonological features that affect the meaning & acceptabilityof the whole sentence. In this chapter, the BH is updated after a decade sinceits proposal. Current views of Universal Grammar & parametric variation areoutlined. Implications of those current views for adult L2A are spelled out. Newevidence for the BH is reviewed from the L2A of semantics, morphophonology &syntax. Additional factors that complicate acquisition of the functionalmorphology are discussed and a pyramid of L2A difficulty is proposed.