Heritage language and linguistic theory

摘要: This paper discusses a common reality in many cases of multilingualism: heritage speakers, or unbalanced bilinguals, simultaneous sequential, who shifted early childhood from one language (their language) to their dominant (the speech community). To demonstrate the relevance linguistics study linguistic competence more broadly defined, we present series case studies on linguistics, documenting some deficits and abilities typical together with broader theoretical questions they inform. We consider reorganization morphosyntactic feature systems, reanalysis atypical argument structure, attrition syntax relativization, simplification scope interpretations; these phenomena implicate diverging trajectories outcomes development speakers. The also have practical methodological implications for multilingualism. conclude by discussing general concepts central inquiry, particular, complexity native speaker competence.