Morphology and syntax dissociation in SLA
-
María J. Arche
Abstract
This paper investigates the L2 acquisition of Spanish object clitics by L1 English learners. Spanish clitics are analyzed as bundles of agreement and referential features morphologically marked for number and gender. We examine the relationship between morphology and syntax in L2 learners’ grammars in order to assess two current acquisition hypotheses: the Impaired Representation Hypothesis (IRH) and the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH). Data from a production and a comprehension task suggest that learners have an unimpaired narrow syntax, despite apparent inflectional variability. We propose that absent or inaccurate morphology can be explained by a deficit in the mapping to PF. This supports a dissociation between syntactic representation and surface inflection.
Abstract
This paper investigates the L2 acquisition of Spanish object clitics by L1 English learners. Spanish clitics are analyzed as bundles of agreement and referential features morphologically marked for number and gender. We examine the relationship between morphology and syntax in L2 learners’ grammars in order to assess two current acquisition hypotheses: the Impaired Representation Hypothesis (IRH) and the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH). Data from a production and a comprehension task suggest that learners have an unimpaired narrow syntax, despite apparent inflectional variability. We propose that absent or inaccurate morphology can be explained by a deficit in the mapping to PF. This supports a dissociation between syntactic representation and surface inflection.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. Interfaces with syntax and phonology
- Case conflict in Greek free relatives 21
- There are no special clitics 57
- Inflectional morphology and syntax in correspondence 97
- At the boundary of morphology and syntax 137
-
Part 2. Interfaces with semantics and the lexicon
- The feature of tense at the interface of morphology and semantics 171
- The aspectual properties of nominalization structures 195
- Determiner and Noun phrase coordination in modern Greek 221
- The pre-conditions for suppletion 239
- Archi morphology from a lexicographic perspective 267
-
Part 3. Interfaces in psycholinguistics and language acquisition
- Morphology and syntax dissociation in SLA 291
- The role of morphology in grammatical gender assignment 321
- Index 351
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. Interfaces with syntax and phonology
- Case conflict in Greek free relatives 21
- There are no special clitics 57
- Inflectional morphology and syntax in correspondence 97
- At the boundary of morphology and syntax 137
-
Part 2. Interfaces with semantics and the lexicon
- The feature of tense at the interface of morphology and semantics 171
- The aspectual properties of nominalization structures 195
- Determiner and Noun phrase coordination in modern Greek 221
- The pre-conditions for suppletion 239
- Archi morphology from a lexicographic perspective 267
-
Part 3. Interfaces in psycholinguistics and language acquisition
- Morphology and syntax dissociation in SLA 291
- The role of morphology in grammatical gender assignment 321
- Index 351
