When masculine as default supercedes L1 transfer
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Rachel Klassen
Abstract
Previous research has shown that L2 gender use strategies vary according to the bilingual’s L1, with native speakers of languages without grammatical gender (such as English) tending to use masculine as a default while native speakers of languages with a gender feature (such as Spanish) opt for transfer of the L1 gender. In this study we examine L1 Spanish-L2 German bilinguals’ use of gender in the L2 through an analysis of errors in oral production. The results showed that, contrary to what has previously been found for L1 speakers of languages with grammatical gender, these bilinguals tended to use masculine as a default strategy. We argue that the difference in L2 gender use strategy is due to the unique representation of the Spanish and German gender systems.
Abstract
Previous research has shown that L2 gender use strategies vary according to the bilingual’s L1, with native speakers of languages without grammatical gender (such as English) tending to use masculine as a default while native speakers of languages with a gender feature (such as Spanish) opt for transfer of the L1 gender. In this study we examine L1 Spanish-L2 German bilinguals’ use of gender in the L2 through an analysis of errors in oral production. The results showed that, contrary to what has previously been found for L1 speakers of languages with grammatical gender, these bilinguals tended to use masculine as a default strategy. We argue that the difference in L2 gender use strategy is due to the unique representation of the Spanish and German gender systems.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface and acknowledgements 1
- L2 acquisition 3
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Part I. Parameters and beyond
- Pro-drop then and now 17
- Reference comprehension and production in bilingual Spanish 37
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Part II. Features and crossroads L1/L2
- When masculine as default supercedes L1 transfer 73
- L2 knowledge of gender and number agreement in Spanish noun ellipsis 99
- Not just algunos , but indeed unos L2ers can acquire scalar implicatures in L2 Spanish 125
-
Part III. Word order and complex structures
- Comprehension of subject and object relative clauses by second language learners of Spanish 149
- On the production of differential object marking and wh -question formation in native and non-native Spanish 187
-
Part IV. Monolingual and bilingual first language acquisition
- In search of the perfect tense 213
- The acquisition of grammatical gender in L1 bilingual Spanish 237
- Applying computing innovations to bilingual corpus analysis 281
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface and acknowledgements 1
- L2 acquisition 3
-
Part I. Parameters and beyond
- Pro-drop then and now 17
- Reference comprehension and production in bilingual Spanish 37
-
Part II. Features and crossroads L1/L2
- When masculine as default supercedes L1 transfer 73
- L2 knowledge of gender and number agreement in Spanish noun ellipsis 99
- Not just algunos , but indeed unos L2ers can acquire scalar implicatures in L2 Spanish 125
-
Part III. Word order and complex structures
- Comprehension of subject and object relative clauses by second language learners of Spanish 149
- On the production of differential object marking and wh -question formation in native and non-native Spanish 187
-
Part IV. Monolingual and bilingual first language acquisition
- In search of the perfect tense 213
- The acquisition of grammatical gender in L1 bilingual Spanish 237
- Applying computing innovations to bilingual corpus analysis 281
- Index 303
