Chapter 1. The development of third person singular present form -s
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Jing Wang
Abstract
Addressing two hypotheses, the Aspect Hypothesis (Andersen & Shirai 1994; Shirai & Andersen 1995) and the Verb-Island Hypothesis (Tomasello 1992), this study analyzed whether the acquisition of third person singular present -s (3S) follows the same path as other tense-aspect markers, such as -ing, past, whose acquisition is influenced by the verb semantic properties, or its acquisition is affected more by input frequency. The present study analyzed three children’s longitudinal data from CHILDES database (MacWhinney 2000) and investigated the developmental characteristics of 3S from three perspectives: the percentage of 3S co-occurring with stative verbs, the frequency correlation of mother’s input and child’s production, and the data comparison with the past tense marker. The results show that the children’s acquisition of semantically motivated morphemes, (i.e. past tense), was more affected by verb semantic properties than input frequency, supporting the Aspect Hypothesis. However, the acquisition of formally motivated features (i.e. 3S), was more affected by input frequency, supporting the Verb-Island Hypothesis.
Abstract
Addressing two hypotheses, the Aspect Hypothesis (Andersen & Shirai 1994; Shirai & Andersen 1995) and the Verb-Island Hypothesis (Tomasello 1992), this study analyzed whether the acquisition of third person singular present -s (3S) follows the same path as other tense-aspect markers, such as -ing, past, whose acquisition is influenced by the verb semantic properties, or its acquisition is affected more by input frequency. The present study analyzed three children’s longitudinal data from CHILDES database (MacWhinney 2000) and investigated the developmental characteristics of 3S from three perspectives: the percentage of 3S co-occurring with stative verbs, the frequency correlation of mother’s input and child’s production, and the data comparison with the past tense marker. The results show that the children’s acquisition of semantically motivated morphemes, (i.e. past tense), was more affected by verb semantic properties than input frequency, supporting the Aspect Hypothesis. However, the acquisition of formally motivated features (i.e. 3S), was more affected by input frequency, supporting the Verb-Island Hypothesis.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Acknowledgments xi
- About the contributors and editor xiii
- Chapter 1. The development of third person singular present form -s 1
- Chapter 2. Zero-present under past in child French 21
- Chapter 3. The L2 acquisition of the English present simple – present progressive distinction 57
- Chapter 4. There is no time like the present 87
- Chapter 5. Examining the influence of transfer and prototypes on the acquisition of the present progressive in L2 Spanish 113
- Chapter 6. Formation and function of the simple present in conversational L2 Russian 153
- Chapter 7. L2 acquisition of English aspect by L1 Arabic speakers 185
- Chapter 8. The L2 acquisition of the present in the Japanese tense-aspect system 215
- Chapter 9. Present tense as a neutral form in the L2 French of Chinese L1 speakers 253
- Chapter 10. The simple present and the expression of temporality in L1 English and L2 English oral narratives 289
- Chapter 11. Conclusions and directions for future research 335
- Subject Index 341
- Name Index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Acknowledgments xi
- About the contributors and editor xiii
- Chapter 1. The development of third person singular present form -s 1
- Chapter 2. Zero-present under past in child French 21
- Chapter 3. The L2 acquisition of the English present simple – present progressive distinction 57
- Chapter 4. There is no time like the present 87
- Chapter 5. Examining the influence of transfer and prototypes on the acquisition of the present progressive in L2 Spanish 113
- Chapter 6. Formation and function of the simple present in conversational L2 Russian 153
- Chapter 7. L2 acquisition of English aspect by L1 Arabic speakers 185
- Chapter 8. The L2 acquisition of the present in the Japanese tense-aspect system 215
- Chapter 9. Present tense as a neutral form in the L2 French of Chinese L1 speakers 253
- Chapter 10. The simple present and the expression of temporality in L1 English and L2 English oral narratives 289
- Chapter 11. Conclusions and directions for future research 335
- Subject Index 341
- Name Index 345
