The status of subjects in early child L2 English
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Mohsen Mobaraki
Abstract
Proponents of Full Transfer/Full Access take nominative subject forms in early child L2 English as evidence for initial state functional projections. We discuss early stage longitudinal data from two Farsi-speaking children acquiring English. Our data reveal non-contrastive use of nominative subject forms, indicating initial absence of case marking. The patterns found are similar to those in the L1 English data in terms of the early non-contrastive pronoun use (e.g. Vainikka 1993/1994) and in terms of co-occurrence of null subjects with non-finite verbs. Pronominal contrasts first occur in utterances with the copula, supporting Hawkins’ (2001) proposal that it triggers the projection of AgrP under the Structure Building approach taken by Vainikka & Young-Scholten (e.g. 1994).
Abstract
Proponents of Full Transfer/Full Access take nominative subject forms in early child L2 English as evidence for initial state functional projections. We discuss early stage longitudinal data from two Farsi-speaking children acquiring English. Our data reveal non-contrastive use of nominative subject forms, indicating initial absence of case marking. The patterns found are similar to those in the L1 English data in terms of the early non-contrastive pronoun use (e.g. Vainikka 1993/1994) and in terms of co-occurrence of null subjects with non-finite verbs. Pronominal contrasts first occur in utterances with the copula, supporting Hawkins’ (2001) proposal that it triggers the projection of AgrP under the Structure Building approach taken by Vainikka & Young-Scholten (e.g. 1994).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
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Part I. Introduction
- Recent perspectives in child second language acquisition 3
- Progressive aspect in child L2 English 17
- Child second language acquisition or successive first language acquisition? 55
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Part II. The acquisition of D-elements
- Misrepresentation of Dutch neuter gender in older bilingual children? 83
- Comparing child and adult L2 acquisition of the Greek DP: Effects of age and construction 97
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Part III. Morphological variability
- The development of copula and auxiliary be and overgeneration of be in child L2 English 145
- Truncation in child L2 acquisition: Evidence from verbless utterances 177
- The status of subjects in early child L2 English 209
- The morphology/syntax interface in child L2 acquisition: Evidence from verbal morphology 237
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Part IV. Comparisons of child L1, child L2 and adult L2
- Testing the Domain-by-Age Model: Inflection and placement of Dutch verbs 271
- Comparing child L2 development with adult L2 development: How to measure L2 proficiency 301
-
Part V. Typical vs. atypical child L2 acquisition
- Tense as a clinical marker in English L2 acquisition with language delay/impairment 337
- Index 357
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
-
Part I. Introduction
- Recent perspectives in child second language acquisition 3
- Progressive aspect in child L2 English 17
- Child second language acquisition or successive first language acquisition? 55
-
Part II. The acquisition of D-elements
- Misrepresentation of Dutch neuter gender in older bilingual children? 83
- Comparing child and adult L2 acquisition of the Greek DP: Effects of age and construction 97
-
Part III. Morphological variability
- The development of copula and auxiliary be and overgeneration of be in child L2 English 145
- Truncation in child L2 acquisition: Evidence from verbless utterances 177
- The status of subjects in early child L2 English 209
- The morphology/syntax interface in child L2 acquisition: Evidence from verbal morphology 237
-
Part IV. Comparisons of child L1, child L2 and adult L2
- Testing the Domain-by-Age Model: Inflection and placement of Dutch verbs 271
- Comparing child L2 development with adult L2 development: How to measure L2 proficiency 301
-
Part V. Typical vs. atypical child L2 acquisition
- Tense as a clinical marker in English L2 acquisition with language delay/impairment 337
- Index 357
