Modeling multilingual grammars: Constraints and predictions.

The article "Modeling multilingual grammars: Constraints and predictions" explores the development of a formal model for multilingual grammars. The authors argue that distinguishing between first and second order constraints is crucial in this process. They propose that Feature Reassembly (FR) mechanisms can be derived from first order constraints, eliminating the need for specific reassembly-oriented processes. The article also discusses the relationship between underlying syntactic features and their morphophonological expression, and explores different approaches to modeling this relationship. The authors advocate for the use of exoskeletal models in linguistics, particularly in the context of language development and acquisition, as they can provide more effective predictions. They address criticisms and suggest integrating experimental research with exoskeletal models to further refine our understanding of language acquisition. The authors acknowledge the need for future research in areas such as syntax-pragmatics interactions. Overall, they propose that incorporating exoskeletal models into linguistic analysis can enhance our understanding of language development. [Extracted from the article]