A Computational Model of P & P : Dresher & Kaye ( 1990 ) Revisited *

Language acquisition research in the Universal Grammar tradition has witnessed a wealth of studies focusing on various aspects of phonology and syntax. The concept of parameter setting as the core of acquisition is at the heart of these studies. As a methodology, computational modeling has hardly given rise to experimental studies that actually implement the theoretical constructs invoked by and utilized in acquisition studies. Nevertheless, computer modeling is a powerful tool for studying highly complex phenomena such as the intricate interactions between the language acquisition data and the process of parameter setting. A notable exception to this situation is Dresher & Kaye's (1990) computational model YOUPIE that incorporates a UG approach to the acquisition of a phonological subsystem, i.e. stress assignment as it is treated in metrical phonology. We analyze this model focusing mainly on the learning theory incorporated in the model, i.e. the way in which UG mediates between the data and the grammar constructed by the learner. This investigation will focus on two aspects of the learning theory. First of all, the requirements formulated with respect to the learning theory will be evaluated against their implementation in the actual model. We will note several mismatches between the two. Secondly, we present an empirical test of the model. The model's production component is used to generate a 'language' for each possible parameter setting. Then, the model's learning component is used to acquire the grammar of each individual language. The outcome of the experiment reveals several problems in empirical coverage of the model, and relates some of them to inherent design choices.