Chapter 7. Testing the predictions of the Scalpel Model in L3/Ln acquisition
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Maria Clements
Abstract
The Scalpel Model (SM) (Slabakova, 2017) argues that neither the L1 nor the L2 has a privileged status in L3 acquisition so transfer can occur from either the L1 or the L2 and on a property-by-property basis. We tested these predictions by examining the acquisition of Chinese null and overt subjects by twenty-five L3 Chinese learners divided into two groups: L1 English-L2 Spanish-L3 Chinese learners and L1 English-L2 non-null subject language-L3 Chinese learners. Results from a Written Production Task and a Pronoun Interpretation Task showed transfer from both background languages but for different properties supporting that transfer can, indeed, be partial in L3 acquisition. We argue that existing structural similarities between the background and the target languages are important as well.
Abstract
The Scalpel Model (SM) (Slabakova, 2017) argues that neither the L1 nor the L2 has a privileged status in L3 acquisition so transfer can occur from either the L1 or the L2 and on a property-by-property basis. We tested these predictions by examining the acquisition of Chinese null and overt subjects by twenty-five L3 Chinese learners divided into two groups: L1 English-L2 Spanish-L3 Chinese learners and L1 English-L2 non-null subject language-L3 Chinese learners. Results from a Written Production Task and a Pronoun Interpretation Task showed transfer from both background languages but for different properties supporting that transfer can, indeed, be partial in L3 acquisition. We argue that existing structural similarities between the background and the target languages are important as well.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction ix
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Part I. Second Language Acquisition
- Chapter 1. Testing the morphological congruency effect in offline comprehension 3
- Chapter 2. Mapping at external interfaces 35
- Chapter 3. Another look at L2 acquisition of French clitics and strong pronouns 67
- Chapter 4. Animacy-based processing loads in anaphora resolution in (non-native) French 95
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Part II. The Bottleneck Hypothesis
- Chapter 5. The Bottleneck Hypothesis as applied to the Spanish DP 123
- Chapter 6. The Bottleneck Hypothesis extends to heritage language acquisition 149
-
Part III. The Scalpel Model and L3 acquisition
- Chapter 7. Testing the predictions of the Scalpel Model in L3/Ln acquisition 181
- Chapter 8. Proficiency and transfer effects in the acquisition of gender agreement by L2 and L3 English learners 203
- Chapter 9. Language dominance and transfer selection in L3 acquisition 229
-
Part IV. Applied SLA
- Chapter 10. What is easy and what is hard 263
- Chapter 11. Generative second language acquisition and language teaching 283
- Subject Index 309
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction ix
-
Part I. Second Language Acquisition
- Chapter 1. Testing the morphological congruency effect in offline comprehension 3
- Chapter 2. Mapping at external interfaces 35
- Chapter 3. Another look at L2 acquisition of French clitics and strong pronouns 67
- Chapter 4. Animacy-based processing loads in anaphora resolution in (non-native) French 95
-
Part II. The Bottleneck Hypothesis
- Chapter 5. The Bottleneck Hypothesis as applied to the Spanish DP 123
- Chapter 6. The Bottleneck Hypothesis extends to heritage language acquisition 149
-
Part III. The Scalpel Model and L3 acquisition
- Chapter 7. Testing the predictions of the Scalpel Model in L3/Ln acquisition 181
- Chapter 8. Proficiency and transfer effects in the acquisition of gender agreement by L2 and L3 English learners 203
- Chapter 9. Language dominance and transfer selection in L3 acquisition 229
-
Part IV. Applied SLA
- Chapter 10. What is easy and what is hard 263
- Chapter 11. Generative second language acquisition and language teaching 283
- Subject Index 309
