A usage-based approach to productive use of inflectional patterns and level of lemma sophistication in adult heritage speakers’ performance

Abstract

Adopting a usage-based perspective, the present study assesses the mental lexicon of Turkish heritage speakers in the UK (HSs, n = 31) regarding the productive use of formulaic inflectional suffix templates and the level of sophistication of the lemmas produced in free speech. We additionally explore input-related predictors of this performance by comparing HS performance to that of a group of previous generation immigrant bilinguals (IBs, n = 61), who are representative input providers, and of a group of monolinguals (n = 44). The results show that overall, both the HSs and IBs diverge from the monolinguals in that they use nominal suffix sequences less productively and rely on less sophisticated nominal lemmas. Their verbal productivity performance, however, remains intact. We argue that altered input results in a performance which diverges from that of the monolinguals but converges on the immigrant variety. The individual variability is partly explained by the amount of L1 passive exposure, indicating that the HSs are not sensitive only to the changes in the input available to them but also to the amount of it. These findings provide new insights into the line of research that describes HSs as incomplete due to their L1-divergent skills in comparison to a monolingual baseline.

(In)frequently asked questions: On types of frequency and their role(s) in heritage language variability

“…In line with the suggestions documented in Karayayla (2021) , several studies have moved towards a more ecologically-valid approach of obtaining lexical frequency data, putting speakers’ individual experience with the HL at the forefront. (As Uygun & Clahsen (2021 : 424) note, “frequencies for lexical entries may be highly variable for heritage speakers given their individual linguistic experience.”) Hur et al (2020) , in their investigation of the effects of token frequency on gender assignment and agreement in heritage Spanish, implemented a self-rating lexical frequency task (SRLFT)—adapted from López Otero (2020) —with this particular purpose in mind.…”

“…In line with the suggestions documented in Karayayla (2021), several studies have moved towards a more ecologically-valid approach of obtaining lexical frequency data, putting speakers' individual experience with the HL at the forefront. (As Uygun & Clahsen (2021: 424) note, "frequencies for lexical entries may be highly variable for heritage speakers given their individual linguistic experience. ")…”

“…Putnam and Sánchez’s (2013) predictions regarding lexical frequency sparked a renewed interest in the study of how this variable might modulate HSs’ performance ( Hur, 2020 ; Hur et al, 2020 ; Karayayla, 2021 ; López-Beltrán, 2021 ; Giancaspro et al, 2022 ; Perez-Cortes, 2022b , inter alia ). As previously mentioned, the majority of the research in this area has focused on the domain of morphosyntax, with a particular emphasis on the acquisition of nominal and verbal inflection.…”

“…This is particularly relevant in the case of HSs, who may be more familiar with registers, styles or subsets of the lexicon that are not usually represented in traditional corpora. Karayayla (2021) addressed this particular question in her study of adult Turkish HSs’ use of inflectional suffix templates and the level of sophistication of the morphological forms they produce (when compared to Turkish monolinguals and recent immigrants). Based on previous work by Durrant (2013) , Karayayla suggests that it is imperative to use frequency data that captures the characteristics of the input experienced by heritage bilinguals to reproduce as closely as possible their patterns of exposure.…”

The Next Phase in Heritage Language Studies: Methodological Considerations and Advancements

“…Putnam and Sánchez's (2013) predictions regarding lexical frequency sparked a renewed interest in the study of how this variable might modulate HSs' performance (Hur, 2020;Karayayla, 2021;López-Beltrán, 2021;Giancaspro et al, 2022;Perez-Cortes, 2022b, inter alia). As previously mentioned, the majority of the research in this area has focused on the domain of morphosyntax, with a particular emphasis on the acquisition of nominal and verbal inflection.…”