The development of copula and auxiliary be and overgeneration of be in child L2 English
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Elena Gavruseva
Abstract
This articles examines an asymmetry in the acquisition of copula and auxiliarybe in a longitudinal corpus of English-acquiring consecutive bilinguals (ages 6;4–9;2). I argue that a delay in the productive use of auxiliary be vis-à-vis the copula can be explained under a theory of early L2 grammar that assumes an underspecified AspP. If aspectual features are taken to be underspecified in the initial state, structures requiring aspectual specification are expected to appear in a non-finite form (bare -ing or bare stem). These predictions are borne out in the L2 data as -ing forms and bare stems occur in non-finite and often aspectually inappropriate contexts and that the aspectual errors occur while the copula is used in an adult-like way.
Abstract
This articles examines an asymmetry in the acquisition of copula and auxiliarybe in a longitudinal corpus of English-acquiring consecutive bilinguals (ages 6;4–9;2). I argue that a delay in the productive use of auxiliary be vis-à-vis the copula can be explained under a theory of early L2 grammar that assumes an underspecified AspP. If aspectual features are taken to be underspecified in the initial state, structures requiring aspectual specification are expected to appear in a non-finite form (bare -ing or bare stem). These predictions are borne out in the L2 data as -ing forms and bare stems occur in non-finite and often aspectually inappropriate contexts and that the aspectual errors occur while the copula is used in an adult-like way.
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
