Cross-linguistic influence in L1 processing of morphosyntactic variation: Evidence from L2 learners
Abstract
The current study investigates cross-linguistic influence of second language (L2) learning
on native language (L1) processing of morphosyntactic variation in proficient L2 learners
immersed in their L1. Despite Spanish pre- and postverbal clitic pronoun positions being
grammatical in complex verb phrases, preferences of use have been well attested in naturalistic
language production. To examine whether those preferences obtain for comprehension
in monolinguals, as well as how those preferences might be modulated by learning an
L2 with fixed pronoun positions, we administered a self-paced reading experiment to 20
Spanish monolinguals as well as 22 proficient learners English (L1 Spanish). The results of
a Bayesian mixed effects regression analysis suggest that preferences in production are echoed
in comprehension—but only for the monolingual group. We find support for facilitation
in the bilingual group precisely where both languages overlap, as well as evidence
that bilinguals may not use clitic position as a reliable cue at all. We interpret the results as
evidence that learning an L2 that lacks variation for a particular feature may lead to
reduced sensitivity to that feature as a cue in an analogous L1 structure. We situate these
results in an experience-based, shared-syntax account of language processing.
Description
Article available from publisher: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0142716420000685
Department
Modern Languages and Literatures