The lexicon-syntax interface in second language acquisition : evidence from L2 Japanese
This thesis deals with the second language (L2) acquisition of the interface between verb meaning and morphosyntax in Japanese by English-speaking learners. The general aim of the study is to explore the influence of lexical semantic features on the acquisition of the syntax of intransitive verbs in L2 Japanese. Two different grammatical phenomena are targeted in the study: split intransitivity and the transitivity alternation. The aim of the study with respect to each grammatical phenomenon is outlined as follows. First, the purpose of the study on split intransitivity is to investigate whether the knowledge of the unaccusative-unergative distinction exhibited by native Japanese and acquired by L2 learners of Japanese displays any sensitivity to the Split Intransitivity Hierarchy, which is proposed by Sorace (2000) for European languages. Second, our interest in the transitivity alternation is to determine whether the difference in the features involved in the intransitive /transitive alternation will affect L2 acquisition. These features include not only the mapping between the lexicon and syntax, but also the presence of a morphological marker distinguishing transitive and intransitive verbs. The central
Shomura, Yoko
The lexicon-syntax interface in second language acquisition : evidence from L2 Japanese. This thesis deals with the second language (L2) acquisition of the interface between verb meaning and morphosyntax in Japanese by English-speaking learners. The general aim of the study is to explore the influence of lexical semantic features on the acquisition of the syntax of intransitive verbs in L2 Japanese. Two different grammatical phenomena are targeted in the study: split intransitivity and the transitivity alternation. The aim of the study with respect to each grammatical phenomenon is outlined as follows. First, the purpose of the study on split intransitivity is to investigate whether the knowledge of the unaccusative-unergative distinction exhibited by native Japanese and acquired by L2 learners of Japanese displays any sensitivity to the Split Intransitivity Hierarchy, which is proposed by Sorace (2000) for European languages. Second, our interest in the transitivity alternation is to determine whether the difference in the features involved in the intransitive /transitive alternation will affect L2 acquisition. These features include not only the mapping between the lexicon and syntax, but also the presence of a morphological marker distinguishing transitive and intransitive verbs. The central
lexicon syntax interface second_language_acquisition evidence japanese deal second_language_acquisition interface verb mean morphosyntax japanese_english speaking_learner general aim_study explore influence_lexical semantic_feature acquisition syntax intransitive verb japanese two_different grammatical phenomenon target study split transitivity alternation aim_study respect grammatical phenomenon outline follow first purpose_study split investigate_whether knowledge unaccusative unergative distinction exhibit native japanese acquire learner japanese display sensitivity split hierarchy propose european language second interest transitivity alternation determine_whether difference feature involve intransitive transitive alternation affect acquisition feature include map lexicon syntax also presence morphological marker distinguish transitive intransitive verb central