ON THE PAUCITY OF EVIDENCE FOR NONSYSTEMATIC VARIABILITY IN INTERLANGUAGE STUDY

In early studies on Interlanguage,it is believed that Interlanguage is a system which functions according to its own rules. This idea is best presented in the works by the noted scholars as S. P. Corder,Selinker and Nemser. However,James1 later challenged this view with good reason. Indeed,if there are all sorts of variabilities within the Interlanguage system,with all sorts of causes,what point is there in arguing that Interlanguage is systematic? By the term "strong theory",I refer to a theory that makes strong claims without adducing adequate empirical evidence from either quantitative data or qualitative data. In this paper,it is demonstrated that although Ellis,2-4 strong theory 0f InterIanguage development, which lays great emphasis on the role of nonsystematic variability,seems to hold water theoreticalIy,i.e. it has ha validity,it is weak in empirical terms. Along with the theoretical introduction,empirical evidence is reviewed. This leads to the final conclusion that strong theory needs strong evidence. Ellis’ position urgently needs empirical work to back lt up.