Syntax/semantics/pragmatics of yes/no question in second language Turkish
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Martina Gracanin-Yuksek
Abstract
This paper examines the second language (L2) acquisition of the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of Turkish yes/no (yn) questions across learners of different proficiency. Employing three tasks, we tested the participants’ knowledge of the syntax of yn questions, the semantic interpretations they assign to the construction, and their mastery of the pragmatic constraints that govern the use of various points of yn questions. Although the results show that the participants’ performance in all three areas we tested is commensurate with their overall proficiency in Turkish, the pragmatic competence of L2 learners seems to lag behind their competence in both syntax and semantics. This points to difficulties that interface phenomena pose to L2 learners, relative to narrow syntax.
Abstract
This paper examines the second language (L2) acquisition of the syntax, semantics, and pragmatics of Turkish yes/no (yn) questions across learners of different proficiency. Employing three tasks, we tested the participants’ knowledge of the syntax of yn questions, the semantic interpretations they assign to the construction, and their mastery of the pragmatic constraints that govern the use of various points of yn questions. Although the results show that the participants’ performance in all three areas we tested is commensurate with their overall proficiency in Turkish, the pragmatic competence of L2 learners seems to lag behind their competence in both syntax and semantics. This points to difficulties that interface phenomena pose to L2 learners, relative to narrow syntax.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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PART I. The acquisition of L2 phonology
- Acquisition of L2 Turkish prosody 19
- Decreasing dependence on orthography in phonological development 49
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PART II. The acquisition of L2 morpho-syntax
- The acquisition of TAM markers in L2 Turkish 75
- The causative/inchoative morphology in L2 Turkish under the Feature Reassembly Approach 107
- Someone judges every sentence 135
- Syntax/semantics/pragmatics of yes/no question in second language Turkish 165
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PART III. The acquisition of L2 discourse/pragmatics
- Cross-linguistic effects in the use of suggestion formulas by L2 Turkish learners 195
- Explicit apologies in L2 Turkish 221
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PART IV. The processing of L2 morpho-syntax
- Processing morphology in L2 Turkish 251
- Non-native syntactic processing of Case and Agreement 281
- Structural priming in L2 Turkish 313
- Conclusion 333
- Index 347
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
PART I. The acquisition of L2 phonology
- Acquisition of L2 Turkish prosody 19
- Decreasing dependence on orthography in phonological development 49
-
PART II. The acquisition of L2 morpho-syntax
- The acquisition of TAM markers in L2 Turkish 75
- The causative/inchoative morphology in L2 Turkish under the Feature Reassembly Approach 107
- Someone judges every sentence 135
- Syntax/semantics/pragmatics of yes/no question in second language Turkish 165
-
PART III. The acquisition of L2 discourse/pragmatics
- Cross-linguistic effects in the use of suggestion formulas by L2 Turkish learners 195
- Explicit apologies in L2 Turkish 221
-
PART IV. The processing of L2 morpho-syntax
- Processing morphology in L2 Turkish 251
- Non-native syntactic processing of Case and Agreement 281
- Structural priming in L2 Turkish 313
- Conclusion 333
- Index 347
