Child second language acquisition or successive first language acquisition?
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Jürgen M. Meisel
Abstract
This paper explores the question of whether child L2 acquisition is more like L1 or adult L2. An analysis of the acquisition of finiteness by German child L2 learners of French leads to the conclusion that successive acquisition of languages exhibits similarities to adult L2 in some aspects of inflectional morphology. This claim is based on the observation that specific features of grammatical development typically occur in one type of acquisition only, not in the other. Unlike mature French and child L1, French subject clitics appear adjacent to non-finite verbs in adult and child L2 French. One can argue that they do not possess the same grammatical status in child and adult L2 grammars as they do in L1 grammars.
Abstract
This paper explores the question of whether child L2 acquisition is more like L1 or adult L2. An analysis of the acquisition of finiteness by German child L2 learners of French leads to the conclusion that successive acquisition of languages exhibits similarities to adult L2 in some aspects of inflectional morphology. This claim is based on the observation that specific features of grammatical development typically occur in one type of acquisition only, not in the other. Unlike mature French and child L1, French subject clitics appear adjacent to non-finite verbs in adult and child L2 French. One can argue that they do not possess the same grammatical status in child and adult L2 grammars as they do in L1 grammars.
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
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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
