The acquisition of control in European Portuguese
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Celina Agostinho
Abstract
We offer a new insight on the acquisition of control, by considering data from Portuguese. We explore two main issues: (i) the distinction between obligatory control and non-obligatory control and (ii) choice of controller. Our results show that children distinguish certain obligatory and non-obligatory control contexts: children accepted a sentence-external antecedent in infinitival subjects but not in infinitival complements. Additionally, our study confirms previous results suggesting that subject control in promise-type contexts is delayed. However, it equally shows that there is no absolute bias for object control at early stages. We evaluate predictions made by contemporary accounts of control, namely the movement theory of control (Hornstein, 1999) and the theory of control as Agree (Landau, 2000, and subsequent work).
Abstract
We offer a new insight on the acquisition of control, by considering data from Portuguese. We explore two main issues: (i) the distinction between obligatory control and non-obligatory control and (ii) choice of controller. Our results show that children distinguish certain obligatory and non-obligatory control contexts: children accepted a sentence-external antecedent in infinitival subjects but not in infinitival complements. Additionally, our study confirms previous results suggesting that subject control in promise-type contexts is delayed. However, it equally shows that there is no absolute bias for object control at early stages. We evaluate predictions made by contemporary accounts of control, namely the movement theory of control (Hornstein, 1999) and the theory of control as Agree (Landau, 2000, and subsequent work).
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Complement clauses in Portuguese 1
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Syntax papers
- Control of inflected infinitives in European Portuguese 29
- Inflected infinitives in Brazilian Portuguese and the theory of Control 59
- Infinitival complements of causative/perception verbs in a diachronic perspective 101
- Controlled overt pronouns as specificational predicates 129
- (Hyper)-raising in Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish 187
- Subjunctive and subject obviation in Portuguese 213
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Commentary paper
- Comments on complementation in Portuguese 243
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Acquisition papers
- The acquisition of control in European Portuguese 263
- The acquisition of infinitival complements to causative verbs in Mozambican Portuguese 295
- Inflected infinitives in L2 Portuguese 321
- How Portuguese children interpret subject pronouns in complement clauses 361
-
Commentary paper
- Comments on the acquisition of complementation in Portuguese 395
- Index 415
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Complement clauses in Portuguese 1
-
Syntax papers
- Control of inflected infinitives in European Portuguese 29
- Inflected infinitives in Brazilian Portuguese and the theory of Control 59
- Infinitival complements of causative/perception verbs in a diachronic perspective 101
- Controlled overt pronouns as specificational predicates 129
- (Hyper)-raising in Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish 187
- Subjunctive and subject obviation in Portuguese 213
-
Commentary paper
- Comments on complementation in Portuguese 243
-
Acquisition papers
- The acquisition of control in European Portuguese 263
- The acquisition of infinitival complements to causative verbs in Mozambican Portuguese 295
- Inflected infinitives in L2 Portuguese 321
- How Portuguese children interpret subject pronouns in complement clauses 361
-
Commentary paper
- Comments on the acquisition of complementation in Portuguese 395
- Index 415
