Interpretation of English reflexives by adolescent speakers of Serbo-Croatian

This article addresses the question of L1 transfer in L2 acquisition of reflexive binding. It incorporates recent research on Binding Theory which focuses on the relationship between morphological complexity of anaphors and the occurrence of long-distance binding of reflexives (cf. Yang, 1983; Pica, 1987; Hellan, 1988; Battistella, 1989; Huang and Tang, 1989; Cole et al., 1990; Progovac, 1992). Reflexives typically fall into two categories: simple (X 0 ) reflexives that may take long-distance antecedents and complex (XP) refle xives that may not. Acquisition of the English binding pattern by native speakers of Serbo-Croatian requires recognition of the morphological com plexity of English reflexives. Prior to reanalysis, learners are predicted to transfer the L1 X 0 anaphor type and incorrectly assign long-distance antece dents to English XP reflexives. The interpretation of English reflexives by native speakers of Serbo- Croatian was investigated using two types of written sentence comprehension tasks. A picture identification task and a multiple-choice questionnaire were administered to intermediate ( n = 20) and advanced (n = 20) L2 learners and a group of English native speaker controls (n = 20). Results consistent across task type support the transfer hypothesis and suggest learners have access to Universal Grammar in second language acquisition

Comprehension · Comprehension approach · Croatian · First language · Grammar · Interpretation (philosophy · Language transfer · Linguistics · Natural language · Second-language acquisition · Sentence · Task (project management · Universal Grammar · Computer Science · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Psychology · Second Language Acquisition and Learning · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

• Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar

  Open Access•Lydia White•Second Language Acquisition and…•2003

  Incluir item

• Effects of the interface categories on the acquisition patterns of English reflexives among learners of English as a foreign language

  Open Access•Mingjun Wu, Long Jiang Zhang et al.•International Journal of…•2020

  Incluir item

• Effects of Instruction on Second Language Acquisition of the Japanese Long-Distance Reflexive Zibun

  Open Access•Lydia White, Makiko Hirakawa et al.•The Canadian Journal of…•1996

  Incluir item

• Relevance and L2 Learners’ Interpretation of Reflexive Anaphora in VP-Ellipsis

  Open Access•H G Ying, HONGGUANG YING•Journal of Universal Language•2005

  Incluir item

• Second language learners’ interpretation of reflexive anaphora in VP-ellipsis

  Open Access•H G Ying•Language Sciences•2005

  Incluir item

• Against underdetermined reflexive binding

  Open Access•Robert Hamilton•Second language Research•1996

  Incluir item

• Access to UG and language transfer

  Open Access•H G Ying•Second language Research•1999

  Incluir item

• Acquisition of the Japanese reflexive zibun and movement of anaphors in Logical Form

  Open Access•Margaret Thomas•Second language Research•1995

  Incluir item

• Children's Knowledge of Locality Conditions in Binding as Evidence for the Modularity of Syntax and Pragmatics

  Yu-Chin Chien, Kenneth Wexler•Language Acquisition•1990

  Incluir item

• Studies in the Acquisition of Anaphora

  Open Access•Barbara Lust•Studies in the Acquisition of…•1986

  Incluir item

• Lectures on Government and Binding

  Noam Chomsky•Lectures on Government and Binding•1993

  Incluir item

• Subjunctive

  Ljiljana Progovac•The Linguistic Review•1993

  Incluir item

• Toward a Theory of Long Distance Anaphors

  Alessandra Giorgi•The Linguistic Review•1984

  Incluir item

• On anaphor binding in Russian

  Open Access•Gilbert C Rappaport•Natural Language and Linguistic…•1986

  Incluir item

• Chinese reflexives

  Open Access•Chih-Chen Jane Tang•Natural Language and Linguistic…•1989

  Incluir item

• Relativized minimality

  Open Access•Maria Rita Manzini•Lingua•1991

  Incluir item

• What can we learn from children's errors in understanding anaphora

  Open Access•Werner Deutsch, Charlotte Koster et al.•Linguistics•1986

  Incluir item

• Chinese reflexivization

  Open Access•Edwin Battistella•Linguistics•1989

  Incluir item

• Universal Grammar and the Interpretation of Reflexives in a Second Language

  Margaret Thomas•Language•1991

  Incluir item