Neal Snape, Ph.D.
November 17, 2025 2025-11-17 8:11
Dr. Neal Snape is a Professor of TESOL in the Anaheim University Graduate School of Education and a Professor of Language and Linguistics in the Faculty of International Communication at Gunma Prefectural Women’s University in Japan, where he specializes in second language acquisition with a particular focus on the English nominal domain, article systems, definiteness, genericity, and cross-linguistic influence. His research examines how linguistic knowledge is acquired, processed, and retained in second, third, and heritage languages, with a growing body of work dedicated to multilingualism and returnee language development.
Dr. Snape earned his PhD in Language and Linguistics from the University of Essex, where his dissertation explored acquisition patterns of the English determiner phrase among Japanese and Spanish learners. His work has since contributed to key theoretical discussions on interface phenomena, generative approaches to second language acquisition, and the pedagogical implications of grammatical complexity. Following his doctoral work, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Calgary’s Language Research Centre, continuing research into article acquisition while leading pedagogy-focused scholarly groups.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Snape has held faculty roles at leading institutions, including Hokkaido University, the University of Tokyo, Chuo University, and Anaheim University. He has served as principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous large-scale research projects supported by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), advancing empirical research on bilingualism, processing, and the development of linguistic competence across learner populations.
His publication record includes peer-reviewed articles, edited volumes, and book chapters with major academic presses and journals. His invited lectures and conference presentations span Asia, Europe, and North America, making his work a recognized contribution to the field internationally. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Snape is an active member of the academic community, serving on editorial boards and reviewing for journals, book publishers, and research councils across multiple countries.
A dedicated educator, he teaches courses in bilingualism, psycholinguistics, second language acquisition, academic writing, and research methodology, mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing advanced study in applied linguistics. Originally from the United Kingdom, Dr. Snape brings a global perspective and expertise to his teaching and research, informed by extensive experience living and working internationally.
Books & Edited Volumes
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Conference Proceedings of PacSLRF 2016. Edited by Hirakawa, M., Matthews, J., Otaki, K., Snape, N., & Umeda, M.
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Snape, N. & Kupisch, T. (2016). Second Language Acquisition: Second Language Systems. Croydon, UK: Bloomsbury Publishers.
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Snape, N., Leung, Y-k. I., & Sharwood Smith, M. (2009). Representational Deficits in SLA: In honor of Roger Hawkins. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
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Snape, N. (2008). The Acquisition of the English Determiner Phrase by L2 Learners: Japanese and Spanish.Saarbrücken, Germany: VDM Verlag.
Chapters in Edited Volumes (Refereed)
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Snape, N. (to appear). 第二言語習得における普遍文法－明示的・暗示的知識に関する議論－ [Universal Grammar in Second Language Acquisition]. Kurosio Publishers.
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Snape, N. (in press). Suppliance of functional morphology by L1 Chinese L2 English speakers: The Prosodic Transfer Hypothesis and pedagogical implications. In Chan, M., & Benati, A. (Eds.). New York: Springer.
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Flores, C. & Snape, N. (2021). Language attrition and heritage reversal in returnees. In Montrul, S., & Polinsky, M. (Eds.). Cambridge Handbook of Heritage Languages and Linguistics (pp. 351–372). Cambridge University Press.
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Snape, N. (2020). Post-instruction processing of generics in English by Japanese L2 learners. In Trotzke, A. & Kupisch, T. (Eds.). Formal Linguistics and Language Education (pp. 155–178). Springer.
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Snape, N. (2017). 日本人英語学習者による冠詞の習得 [Acquisition of Articles by Japanese L2 learners]. Kurosio Publishers.
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Snape, N. & Sekigami, S. (2016). Japanese L2 speakers’ acquisition of the English definiteness effect. Cambridge Scholars Press.
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Kupisch, T., Snape, N., & Stangen, I. (2013). Foreign language acquisition in heritage speakers. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
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Snape, N. & Yusa, N. (2013). Explicit instruction in definiteness, specificity, genericity, and perception. Springer.
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Kupisch, T., Anderssen, M., Bohnacker, U., & Snape, N. (2009). Article acquisition in Germanic languages. Georgetown University Press.
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Snape, N. (2009). Exploring Mandarin Chinese speakers’ article use. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Refereed Journal Articles
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Snape, N. (2019). The acquisition of articles: The story so far. Second Language, 18, 7–24.
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Umeda, M., Snape, N., Yusa, N., & Wiltshier, J. (2019). Long-term effects of explicit instruction on English article use. Language Teaching Research, 23(2), 179–199.
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Snape, N. & Umeda, M. (2018). Addressing fluctuation in article choice. Instructed Second Language Acquisition, 2(2), 164–188.
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Snape, N. (2018). Definite generic vs. definite unique. Journal of the European Second Language Association, 2(1), 83–95.
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Snape, N. & Hosoi, H. (2018). Scalar implicatures in L2 English. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 8(2), 163–192.
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Snape, N. (2016). Judgments of articles in L2 English by a child returnee. Studies in Language Sciences, 15, 71–95.
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Xu, Q., Shi, Y., & Snape, N. (2016). English article acquisition in Chinese learners. Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, 39(4), 459–483.
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Snape, N., Matthews, J., Hirakawa, M., Hirakawa, Y., & Hosoi, H. (2014). Aspect in L2 English. EUROSLA Yearbook, 14, 79–110.
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Snape, N. (2013). Generic reference in Japanese and Spanish L2 English. Studies in Language Sciences, 12, 70–94.
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Snape, N., García Mayo, M. del P. & Gürel, A. (2013). L1 transfer in generic article choice. International Journal of English Studies, 13(1), 1–28.
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Snape, N. & Kupisch, T. (2010). Ultimate attainment in L2 articles. Second Language Research, 26(4), 527–548.
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Snape, N. (2008). Resetting the Nominal Mapping Parameter. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 11(1), 63–79.
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Hawkins, R., et al. (2006). Accounting for English article interpretation. EUROSLA Yearbook, 6, 7–25.
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Snape, N. (2005). The certain uses of articles in L2 English. Durham and Newcastle Working Papers in Linguistics, 11, 155–168.
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Snape, N. (2005). The use of articles in L2 English. Essex Graduate Papers in Linguistics, 7, 1–23.
Conference Proceedings (Peer-Reviewed)
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Snape, N., Umeda, M., Wiltshier, J., & Yusa, N. (2016). Teaching complexities of English article use. GASLA 2015 Proceedings, pp. 208-222.
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Snape, N., Hirakawa, M., Hirakawa, Y., Hosoi, H., & Matthews, J. (2014). L2 English generics in child returnees. SLRF 2012 Selected Proceedings, pp. 155-169.
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Snape, N., Hirakawa, M., Hirakawa, Y., Hosoi, H., & Matthews, J. (2013). Genericity in online grammar. GASLA 2013 Proceedings, pp. 193-202.
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Snape, N., García Mayo, M., & Gürel, A. (2009). Generic reference in L2 learners. GASLA 2009 Proceedings, pp. 1-8.
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Snape, N. (2007). Article omission by Japanese speakers. GALANA Proceedings, pp. 394-405.
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Snape, N., Leung, Y-k. I., & Ting, H-C. (2006). Article acquisition across L1 groups. GASLA 2006 Proceedings, pp. 132-139.
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Snape, N. (2006). Definiteness and specificity in L2 English. Generative Approaches to Language Development, pp. 500-504.
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Snape, N. (2006). Parameter resetting in L2 English. CamLing Proceedings, pp. 205-212.
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Snape, N. (2005). Article use in L2 English: Hypothesis testing. CamLing Proceedings, pp. 159-165.
Other Publications
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Snape, N. (2012). L2 generic reference. JSLS Conference Handbook, 89-92.
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Snape, N. (2010). Patterns of article choice by EFL learners. Gunma Prefectural Women’s University Bulletin, 30.
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Snape, N. (2003). Pronoun case assignment in SLI learners. Studies in Japanese Language Teaching, 10, 49-64.
