The L2 acquisition of agreement : comparing the inter language of Dutch, English, French and Swedish-speaking learners of Spanish
Much of current generative research into non-native language (L2) acquisition of morphosyntax has focused on L1 transfer and access to Universal Grammar. Subject-Verb agreement (1) has figured more prominently than nominal agreement ((1 )-(2)) in this debate, but empirical findings remain inconclusive. For instance, Hawkins & Franceschina (2004) conclude that UG features (e.g. [GENDER]) not realised in the L1 cannot be acquired, whereas White et al. (2001) argue the opposite. The present study examines the acquisition of nominal and verbal agreement marking in L2 Spanish through acceptability judgement, comprehension and production tasks carried out amongst adult L2 acquirers matched for at least two levels of proficiency, with L1s which vary in terms of the realisation of nominal and/or verbal agreement: I demonstrate that the fact that L2ers can produce or recognise agreeing morphological markers is not sufficient to ascribe to them knowledge of syntactic agreement (and hence of the relevant functional features). The experiments address this issue by examining (non)agreement in non-contiguous ('long' distance) contexts with a complex sentential subject consisting of a head noun and an intervener (as illustrated
Van Espen, Lieve
The L2 acquisition of agreement : comparing the inter language of Dutch, English, French and Swedish-speaking learners of Spanish. Much of current generative research into non-native language (L2) acquisition of morphosyntax has focused on L1 transfer and access to Universal Grammar. Subject-Verb agreement (1) has figured more prominently than nominal agreement ((1 )-(2)) in this debate, but empirical findings remain inconclusive. For instance, Hawkins & Franceschina (2004) conclude that UG features (e.g. [GENDER]) not realised in the L1 cannot be acquired, whereas White et al. (2001) argue the opposite. The present study examines the acquisition of nominal and verbal agreement marking in L2 Spanish through acceptability judgement, comprehension and production tasks carried out amongst adult L2 acquirers matched for at least two levels of proficiency, with L1s which vary in terms of the realisation of nominal and/or verbal agreement: I demonstrate that the fact that L2ers can produce or recognise agreeing morphological markers is not sufficient to ascribe to them knowledge of syntactic agreement (and hence of the relevant functional features). The experiments address this issue by examining (non)agreement in non-contiguous ('long' distance) contexts with a complex sentential subject consisting of a head noun and an intervener (as illustrated
acquisition agreement comparing inter language dutch_english french swedish speaking_learner spanish much_current generative non_native language_acquisition morphosyntax focus transfer access universal_grammar subject_verb agreement figure prominently nominal agreement debate empirical_finding remain inconclusive instance conclude feature gender realise acquire whereas white argue opposite present_study examines acquisition nominal_verbal agreement mark spanish acceptability_judgement comprehension_production task carry amongst adult match least_two level_proficiency vary term realisation nominal and verbal_agreement fact produce recognise agree morphological marker sufficient ascribe knowledge syntactic agreement hence relevant functional feature address_issue examine non agreement non contiguous long_distance context complex sentential subject consist head_noun illustrated