Journal Article

Double object constructions in L3 English: An exploratory study of morphological and semantic constraints

Imaz Agirre, Ainara, García Mayo, María del Pilar

2014

Overview

The present study examines the acquisition of double object constructions (DOCs) (Susan gave Peter an apple) by 90 Basque/Spanish learners of English as a third language (L3). The aim of this study was to explore whether (i) learners established a distinction when accepting DOCs vs. prepositional phrase constructions (PPCs) (Susan gave an apple to Peter), (ii) they were sensitive to the morphological and semantic constraints found in English DOCs and (iii) proficiency effects could be observed. Results from a self-paced reading task and an auto-paced reading task showed that Basque/Spanish learners were more accurate in morphosyntactic properties than in semantic ones. Even though learners showed difficulties in both morphological and semantic constraints, these seem to be overcome by increasing proficiency.

• Publisher: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia (Murcia University Press),Universidad de Murcia, Facultad de Letras,University of Murcia
• Subject: Accuracy / Analysis / Basque / Basque language / Basque people / Competence / Constraints / Construction / English (Second Language) / English as a Second Language Learning / English language / English proficiency / Females / Grammar, Comparative and general / Language acquisition / Language Proficiency / Languages / Morphological Processing / Morphology / Morphology (Languages) / Multilingualism / Phrase Structure / Prepositional Phrases / Property / Second Language Learning / Semantic Processing / Semantics / Semiotics / Spanish / Spanish language / Statistical Analysis / Studies / Syntactic Structures / Syntax / Task Analysis / Third Language Learning / Verbs / Water