ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to investigate a number of theoretical issues in language acquisition through an experimental study of binding in Icelandic. "Binding" refers tosystematic constraints on the relationship between pronouns and their antecedents. Icelandic is a very interesting language for studying the acquisition of binding, as it has binding properties that are distinct from English. In particular, Icelandic has a "long distance" reflexive construction which has generated considerable interest in linguistic theory and has motivated theoretical work in language acquisition as well. The data will be collected in Reykjavik, Iceland. 30 children, ages 3;0-6;0, will serve as subjects of three experiments designed to determine their interpretations of reflexives and pronouns, and thus to illuminate the course of the acquisition of binding in Icelandic. The results of this study will bear on a number of issues in acquisition theory and linguistic theory. First, it will provide a description of the Icelandic child's acquisition of binding, an area which has received very little attention, and thus will contribute to the growing body of cross-linguistic research into the development of binding. In addition, it will illuminate aspects of the syntax of Icelandic, in particular, the linguistic analysis of long distance reflexives. Finally, the study has direct implications for general linguistic theory and for the developmental processes involved in the acquisition of syntax.
