The production of clitic doubling in psych verbs and inalienable possession constructions in heritage speakers and L2 learners of Spanish
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
Second language acquisition
Location
MBSC Omaha Room 304
Start Date
18-10-2024 2:30 PM
End Date
18-10-2024 3:00 PM
Abstract
The present study examines the production of dative clitic doubling (DatCLD) among heritage Spanish speakers (HS) and L2 learners of Spanish. Previous research has highlighted the challenges this structure poses for both HS and L2 learners, remarking that participants often misidentify dative experiencers as subjects (Montrul, 1998) and tend to avoid DatCLD by favoring prepositional structures (Montrul, 2004; Cuervo, 2007). While most studies have focused on L2 learners or HS, few have examined both populations simultaneously, even when previous literature has found that these two groups differ in their production (Montrul, 2010; Cuza & Lopez-Otero, 2016). Therefore, this study contributes to previous research by analyzing the acquisition and production of DatCLD in two specific conditions: psych verbs and inalienable possession. These conditions are similar in the coindexing of the clitic with the dative argument and an asymmetric c-command between these two elements (bound relationship) (Carnie, 2013). This investigation aims to answer if there are divergences in the production of DatCLD between HS and L2 learners. If so, which alternative forms are used? Moreover, which are the more vulnerable syntactic positions between both conditions? Additionally, the study explores the role of proficiency, language use, and exposure in the use of DatCLD (Sanchez, 2019; Hur et al., 2020).
To answer these questions, 29 HS (age range, 18-24; M=20), 18 L2 learners (age range, 18-25; M=21), and 28 Spanish-dominant speakers as a baseline group (age range, 19-59; M=37) participated in the study. The DatCLD was tested using an Elicited Production Task.
The results reveal differences in the production of DatCLD between the two conditions. Specifically, there is a preference for using DatCLD in psych verb constructions (Figure 1). Conversely, there is a preference for avoiding DatCLD in inalienable possession constructions (Figure 2). Although statistical significance was not found concerning language use, the data suggest a pattern indicating an association (Table 1, 2). These findings are discussed regarding Sánchez (2019) Bilingual Alignments approach, and the role of proficiency, as well as patterns of language use and exposure.
Keywords: bilingual alignments, dative clitic doubling, inalienable possession, psych verbs, second language acquisition
Abstract, tables, figures, and selected references
The production of clitic doubling in psych verbs and inalienable possession constructions in heritage speakers and L2 learners of Spanish
MBSC Omaha Room 304
The present study examines the production of dative clitic doubling (DatCLD) among heritage Spanish speakers (HS) and L2 learners of Spanish. Previous research has highlighted the challenges this structure poses for both HS and L2 learners, remarking that participants often misidentify dative experiencers as subjects (Montrul, 1998) and tend to avoid DatCLD by favoring prepositional structures (Montrul, 2004; Cuervo, 2007). While most studies have focused on L2 learners or HS, few have examined both populations simultaneously, even when previous literature has found that these two groups differ in their production (Montrul, 2010; Cuza & Lopez-Otero, 2016). Therefore, this study contributes to previous research by analyzing the acquisition and production of DatCLD in two specific conditions: psych verbs and inalienable possession. These conditions are similar in the coindexing of the clitic with the dative argument and an asymmetric c-command between these two elements (bound relationship) (Carnie, 2013). This investigation aims to answer if there are divergences in the production of DatCLD between HS and L2 learners. If so, which alternative forms are used? Moreover, which are the more vulnerable syntactic positions between both conditions? Additionally, the study explores the role of proficiency, language use, and exposure in the use of DatCLD (Sanchez, 2019; Hur et al., 2020).
To answer these questions, 29 HS (age range, 18-24; M=20), 18 L2 learners (age range, 18-25; M=21), and 28 Spanish-dominant speakers as a baseline group (age range, 19-59; M=37) participated in the study. The DatCLD was tested using an Elicited Production Task.
The results reveal differences in the production of DatCLD between the two conditions. Specifically, there is a preference for using DatCLD in psych verb constructions (Figure 1). Conversely, there is a preference for avoiding DatCLD in inalienable possession constructions (Figure 2). Although statistical significance was not found concerning language use, the data suggest a pattern indicating an association (Table 1, 2). These findings are discussed regarding Sánchez (2019) Bilingual Alignments approach, and the role of proficiency, as well as patterns of language use and exposure.
Keywords: bilingual alignments, dative clitic doubling, inalienable possession, psych verbs, second language acquisition