Chapter 12. There isn’t a problem with indefinites in existential constructions in L2-English
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Tania Ionin
Abstract
This is an exploratory study of how both native English speakers and L1-Mandarin L2-English learners judge different types of indefinites in both existential there-constructions and copular constructions with an indefinite subject. Unlike English, Mandarin lacks an a/one distinction, has two different types of existential constructions, and lacks numeral partitives. It is argued that target differentiation among indefinite types and syntactic constructions presents a Poverty of the Stimulus problem. Learners are found to overcome this problem: while there is limited evidence of L1-transfer from Mandarin to English, the learners largely exhibit the same patterns as native speakers in an acceptability judgment task. It is argued that a universal Gricean principle helps learners acquire the a/one distinction.
Abstract
This is an exploratory study of how both native English speakers and L1-Mandarin L2-English learners judge different types of indefinites in both existential there-constructions and copular constructions with an indefinite subject. Unlike English, Mandarin lacks an a/one distinction, has two different types of existential constructions, and lacks numeral partitives. It is argued that target differentiation among indefinite types and syntactic constructions presents a Poverty of the Stimulus problem. Learners are found to overcome this problem: while there is limited evidence of L1-transfer from Mandarin to English, the learners largely exhibit the same patterns as native speakers in an acceptability judgment task. It is argued that a universal Gricean principle helps learners acquire the a/one distinction.
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Section A. (Null) subjects and anaphora resolution
- Chapter 1. What the acquisition of Japanese vs. Chinese contributes to generative approaches to SLA 10
- Chapter 2. Extending the Decreased Activation Hypothesis 37
- Chapter 3. Complements and adjuncts of one in L2 English noun drop 63
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Section B. The nominal domain
- Chapter 4. Second language acquisition of English plurals by Chinese learners 88
- Chapter 5. Revisiting plurality in SLA 111
- Chapter 6. L2 acquisition of English flexible count and flexible mass nouns by L1-Japanese and L1-Spanish speakers 134
-
Section C. Sensitivity in L2 processing & ambiguity resolution
- Chapter 7. Structural change and ambiguity resolution in L2 learners of English 172
- Chapter 8. Offline L2-English relative clause attachment preferences 197
- Chapter 9. Sensitivity to silently structured interveners 220
- Chapter 10. Sensitivity to event structure in passives supports deep processing in L1 and L2 238
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Section D. Forms and representations at the interfaces
- Chapter 11. “And yet it moves” 264
- Chapter 12. There isn’t a problem with indefinites in existential constructions in L2-English 290
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Section E. Factors in bi- and multilingual development
- Chapter 13. UG-as-Guide in selection and reassembly of an uninterpretable feature in L2 acquisition of wh -questions 316
- Chapter 14. The narrative skills of Russian-Cypriot Greek children 349
- Chapter 15. Multilingualism, linguistic diversity, and English in India 374
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 401
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
Section A. (Null) subjects and anaphora resolution
- Chapter 1. What the acquisition of Japanese vs. Chinese contributes to generative approaches to SLA 10
- Chapter 2. Extending the Decreased Activation Hypothesis 37
- Chapter 3. Complements and adjuncts of one in L2 English noun drop 63
-
Section B. The nominal domain
- Chapter 4. Second language acquisition of English plurals by Chinese learners 88
- Chapter 5. Revisiting plurality in SLA 111
- Chapter 6. L2 acquisition of English flexible count and flexible mass nouns by L1-Japanese and L1-Spanish speakers 134
-
Section C. Sensitivity in L2 processing & ambiguity resolution
- Chapter 7. Structural change and ambiguity resolution in L2 learners of English 172
- Chapter 8. Offline L2-English relative clause attachment preferences 197
- Chapter 9. Sensitivity to silently structured interveners 220
- Chapter 10. Sensitivity to event structure in passives supports deep processing in L1 and L2 238
-
Section D. Forms and representations at the interfaces
- Chapter 11. “And yet it moves” 264
- Chapter 12. There isn’t a problem with indefinites in existential constructions in L2-English 290
-
Section E. Factors in bi- and multilingual development
- Chapter 13. UG-as-Guide in selection and reassembly of an uninterpretable feature in L2 acquisition of wh -questions 316
- Chapter 14. The narrative skills of Russian-Cypriot Greek children 349
- Chapter 15. Multilingualism, linguistic diversity, and English in India 374
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 401
