Subject pronouns in Spanish-English code-switching

A test of two models

Bibliographic Data

ID21201902
AuthorsAmy Bustin (0000-0002-1951-6248, University of Delaware), Antje Muntendam (0000-0002-0842-1681, Florida State University), Gretchen Sunderman (Florida State University)
Year2024
Volume14
Issue3
Pages310-339
Publication date2024-03-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLinguistic Approaches to Bilingualism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1879-9264 • E-ISSN: 1879-9272
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/lab.21058.bus
OpenAlexW4294734226
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited46

While the Minimalist Program argues that Spanish-English code-switches between pronominal subjects and finite verbs are ungrammatical ( Van Gelderen & MacSwan, 2008 ), the MLF/4-M models ( Myers-Scotton, 1993 ; Myers-Scotton & Jake, 2000 ) predict their grammaticality when overt pronouns are obligatory in both languages (e.g., contrastive focus). In this study, we test the contrary predictions of these models using a code-switching production task. Thirty-eight Spanish-English bilinguals (31 female; Age: 18–23 years) completed a concurrent memory-loaded repetition task where visual primes forced broad or contrastive focus interpretations. We also examined the effects of switch direction, code-switching frequency, and language dominance. The results showed that code-switches between a Spanish overt pronoun and an English inflected verb were more accurately produced in the contrastive focus than the broad focus condition, lending support for the MLF/4-M models. No effect of code-switching frequency was found. Finally, higher Spanish dominance resulted in more accurate production of these code-switches

Code-switching · Grammar · Grammaticality · Linguistics · Physics · Pronoun · Computer Science · Language Development and Disorders · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Philosophy · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development

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