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Beyond the syntax of the Null Subject Parameter

A look at the discourse-pragmatic distribution of null and overt subjects by L2 learners of Spanish
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Abstract

This study investigates whether and how English-speaking L2 learners at various proficiency levels acquire the morphosyntactic and discourse-pragmatic properties of subject expression in Spanish. The crucial question is whether discourse-pragmatic properties are acquired together with syntactic features or later in the process of interlanguage development. According to the Full Transfer/Full Access Hypothesis, transfer effects should be observed at earliest stages of development and full parameter resetting at later stages. An oral production task was administered to 15 intermediate, 15 advanced and 15 near-native learners and 20 native speakers. Results indicated that the near-native speakers performed like the native speakers with the morphosyntactic and the

discourse-pragmatic properties of the Null Subject Parameter, while in intermediate and advanced learners the acquisition of these two properties were dissociated: the learners were accurate with morphosyntax and inaccurate with discourse-pragmatics.

Abstract

This study investigates whether and how English-speaking L2 learners at various proficiency levels acquire the morphosyntactic and discourse-pragmatic properties of subject expression in Spanish. The crucial question is whether discourse-pragmatic properties are acquired together with syntactic features or later in the process of interlanguage development. According to the Full Transfer/Full Access Hypothesis, transfer effects should be observed at earliest stages of development and full parameter resetting at later stages. An oral production task was administered to 15 intermediate, 15 advanced and 15 near-native learners and 20 native speakers. Results indicated that the near-native speakers performed like the native speakers with the morphosyntactic and the

discourse-pragmatic properties of the Null Subject Parameter, while in intermediate and advanced learners the acquisition of these two properties were dissociated: the learners were accurate with morphosyntax and inaccurate with discourse-pragmatics.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. The acquisition of syntax in Romance languages ix
  4. The production of SE and SELF anaphors in Spanish and Dutch children 3
  5. On the acquisition of ambiguous Valency-Marking Morphemes 23
  6. Definite and bare noun contrasts in child Catalan 51
  7. Null arguments in monolingual children 69
  8. Prenominal elements in French-Germanic bilingual first language acquisition 95
  9. A cross-sectional study on the use of “be” in early Italian 117
  10. Patterns of copula omission in Italian child language 135
  11. Looking for the universal core of the RI stage 159
  12. The acquisition of experiencers in Spanish L1 and the external argument requirement hypothesis 183
  13. Early operators and late topic-drop/pro-drop 203
  14. The acquisition of A- and A’-bound pronouns in Brazilian Portuguese 227
  15. Acquiring long-distance wh-questions in L1 Spanish 251
  16. Evidence from L1 acquisition for the syntax of wh -scope marking in French * 289
  17. Acquisition of focus marking in European Portuguese 319
  18. Subject pronouns in bilinguals 331
  19. Is the semantics/syntax interface vulnerable in l2 acquisition? 353
  20. The development of the syntax-information structure interface 371
  21. Beyond the syntax of the Null Subject Parameter 401
  22. Index 419
The Acquisition of Syntax in Romance Languages
This chapter is in the book The Acquisition of Syntax in Romance Languages
https://doi.org/10.1075/lald.41.19mon

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. The acquisition of syntax in Romance languages ix
  4. The production of SE and SELF anaphors in Spanish and Dutch children 3
  5. On the acquisition of ambiguous Valency-Marking Morphemes 23
  6. Definite and bare noun contrasts in child Catalan 51
  7. Null arguments in monolingual children 69
  8. Prenominal elements in French-Germanic bilingual first language acquisition 95
  9. A cross-sectional study on the use of “be” in early Italian 117
  10. Patterns of copula omission in Italian child language 135
  11. Looking for the universal core of the RI stage 159
  12. The acquisition of experiencers in Spanish L1 and the external argument requirement hypothesis 183
  13. Early operators and late topic-drop/pro-drop 203
  14. The acquisition of A- and A’-bound pronouns in Brazilian Portuguese 227
  15. Acquiring long-distance wh-questions in L1 Spanish 251
  16. Evidence from L1 acquisition for the syntax of wh -scope marking in French * 289
  17. Acquisition of focus marking in European Portuguese 319
  18. Subject pronouns in bilinguals 331
  19. Is the semantics/syntax interface vulnerable in l2 acquisition? 353
  20. The development of the syntax-information structure interface 371
  21. Beyond the syntax of the Null Subject Parameter 401
  22. Index 419
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