Cross-linguistic variation and the acquisition of pronominal reference in L2 Spanish

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11655968
AutoresJill Jegerski (0000-0001-6258-5962, City University of New York, autor correspondente), Bill Vanpatten (Michigan State University), Gregory D Keating (0000-0001-8362-0878, San Diego State University)
Ano2011
Volume27
Fascículo4
Páginas481-507
Data de publicação2011-06-06
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSecond language Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0267-6583 • E-ISSN: 1477-0326
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0267658311406033
OpenAlexW2142522321
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas28
Referências citadas17

The current investigation tested two predictions regarding second language (L2) processing at the syntax—discourse interface: (1) that L2 performance on measures of interface phenomena can differ from that of native speakers; and (2) that cross-linguistic influence can be a source of such divergence. Specifically, we examined the offline interpretation of ambiguous subject pronouns with intrasentential antecedents in Spanish and English, including discourse—syntactic constraints that are active in pro-drop Spanish and principles of discourse structure that affect pronominal reference in English. Two participant groups of English-speaking learners of L2 Spanish — an intermediate group and an advanced group — failed to show categorically native-like differentiation between null and overt pronouns in Spanish. Both groups, however, did show marginal effects for Discourse Structure (coordination or subordination of clauses), an effect that was also present in their native English. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction with the advanced group between Pronoun and Discourse Structure, so this group seemed to employ to a certain degree a hybrid strategy. This outcome suggests that pre-existing referential strategy persists even at an advanced level of L2 proficiency and may be a primary barrier to native-like performance, even after target-like L2 principles are acquired and begin to apply

Affect (linguistics · Applied linguistics · Contrastive linguistics · Linguistics · Pronoun · Second-language acquisition · Subject pronoun · Subordination (linguistics · Syntax · Variation (astronomy · Computer Science · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Psychology · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation