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Interpretation of count and mass NPs by L2-learners from generalized classifier L1s

  • Sea Hee Choi , Yeqiu Zhu and Tania Ionin
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Three Streams of Generative Language Acquisition Research
This chapter is in the book Three Streams of Generative Language Acquisition Research

Abstract

This study investigates whether L2-learners from generalized classifier (GC) languages (Korean and Chinese) can acquire the count/mass distinction of English, in the domain of singular NP interpretation. We hypothesize that L1-Korean/Chinese L2-English learners transfer the properties of NP interpretation from their L1 to their L2. This hypothesis was tested using a Picture-Matching Task (PMT). To confirm the L1-transfer effect, Korean and Chinese versions of the experiment were also administered. The results of the English study show that L1-Korean/Chinese L2-English learners were target-like with count NPs, but allowed object-readings of mass NPs more than English NSs. The results of the Korean and Chinese experiment versions provide possible evidence that the pattern of results obtained for L2-English is due to L1-transfer from Korean/Chinese.

Abstract

This study investigates whether L2-learners from generalized classifier (GC) languages (Korean and Chinese) can acquire the count/mass distinction of English, in the domain of singular NP interpretation. We hypothesize that L1-Korean/Chinese L2-English learners transfer the properties of NP interpretation from their L1 to their L2. This hypothesis was tested using a Picture-Matching Task (PMT). To confirm the L1-transfer effect, Korean and Chinese versions of the experiment were also administered. The results of the English study show that L1-Korean/Chinese L2-English learners were target-like with count NPs, but allowed object-readings of mass NPs more than English NSs. The results of the Korean and Chinese experiment versions provide possible evidence that the pattern of results obtained for L2-English is due to L1-transfer from Korean/Chinese.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Three streams of generative language acquisition research 1
  4. Part I. Variation in input
  5. The comprehension of 3rd person singular -s by NYC English-speaking preschoolers 7
  6. Children’s acquisition of sociolinguistic variation 35
  7. Variability within varieties of English 59
  8. Part II. First language acquisition
  9. Parsing, pragmatics, and representation 85
  10. The interpretation of disjunction in VP ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese 107
  11. When OR is conjunctive in child Mandarin 125
  12. The acquisition of V-V compounds in Japanese 143
  13. Differentiating universal quantification from completive aspect in child Cantonese 159
  14. On the learnability of implicit arguments 185
  15. Red train, big train, broken train 203
  16. Part III. Second language acquisition
  17. The acquisition of Mandarin reflexives by heritage speakers and second language learners 225
  18. Interpretation of count and mass NPs by L2-learners from generalized classifier L1s 253
  19. Acquisition of word order in L2 Spanish 271
  20. Argument omission in SignL2 acquisition by deaf learners 297
  21. The Bottleneck Hypothesis updated 319
  22. Author index 347
  23. Subject index 355
https://doi.org/10.1075/lald.63.13cho

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Three streams of generative language acquisition research 1
  4. Part I. Variation in input
  5. The comprehension of 3rd person singular -s by NYC English-speaking preschoolers 7
  6. Children’s acquisition of sociolinguistic variation 35
  7. Variability within varieties of English 59
  8. Part II. First language acquisition
  9. Parsing, pragmatics, and representation 85
  10. The interpretation of disjunction in VP ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese 107
  11. When OR is conjunctive in child Mandarin 125
  12. The acquisition of V-V compounds in Japanese 143
  13. Differentiating universal quantification from completive aspect in child Cantonese 159
  14. On the learnability of implicit arguments 185
  15. Red train, big train, broken train 203
  16. Part III. Second language acquisition
  17. The acquisition of Mandarin reflexives by heritage speakers and second language learners 225
  18. Interpretation of count and mass NPs by L2-learners from generalized classifier L1s 253
  19. Acquisition of word order in L2 Spanish 271
  20. Argument omission in SignL2 acquisition by deaf learners 297
  21. The Bottleneck Hypothesis updated 319
  22. Author index 347
  23. Subject index 355
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