Interpretation of NPs in generic and existential contexts in L3 Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract

This paper examines the interpretation of NPs in generic and existential contexts in the acquisition of Brazilian Portuguese (BrP) as a third language (L3) by learners who speak English and a Romance language (Spanish, French or Italian). The paper examines whether transfer / cross-linguistic influence is from English, Spanish/French/Italian, or both, and whether it matters which language is the learners’ first language (L1) vs. their second language (L2). An Acceptability Judgment Task of NP interpretation in BrP is administered to L1-English L2-Spanish/French/Italian and L1-Spanish L2-English learners of BrP as an L3, as well as to a control group of native speakers of BrP. The findings point to a nuanced picture of transfer in L3 acquisition, in which both languages can serve as the source of transfer, but transfer from a previously learned Romance language is more pronounced than transfer from English, both for L1-English L2-Romance and L1-Spanish L2-English L3-learners of BrP.

Genericity in third language English: Acquisition pattern and transfer in ultimate attainment

“…Ionin et al (2015) extended the previous study and examined the generic and existential interpretation of definite, indefinite and bare NPs. The BrP L3ers were L1 English–L2 Romance (Spanish, French or Italian) and L1 Spanish–L2 English adults.…”

“…The findings of two studies (Ionin, Montrul, Kim, & Philippov, 2011; Snape, Garcia Mayo, & Gürel, 2013) suggest that L2 genericity is largely determined by the way it is realized in the L1, but that learners show target-like accuracy in advanced stages of L2A. As for L3A, to our knowledge, only two studies in L3A investigated genericity, and indicated that prior L1 and L2 knowledge as well as L3 input intervened in genericity construction: Ionin, Grolla, Santos, and Montrul (2015), which built on Ionin, Grolla, Montrul, and Santos (2013).…”

The Role of L3 in the Interpretation of Articles with Definite Plurals in L2 English

“…Overall, the results of the two studies demonstrated that the L2 influence on L3 phonology is conditioned by typology. More recently, Ionin et al (2015) conducted plural NP interpretation tests to assess L1-English L2-Spanish L3-Brazilian Portuguese learners (ESB) and L1-Spanish L2-English L3-Brazilian Portuguese learners (SEB) to ascertain how transfers occur in L3A. Their findings suggest that in determining the interpretation of plural NPs in their L3A, participants rely on the language they recognize as being structurally close to the L3, irrespective of whether it is their L1 or L2.…”

A aceitabilidade do singular nu pré-verbal em Português Brasileiro

“…Cada condição era apresentada na presença de um contexto, sendo enunciada após a apresentação de uma história, como foi feito nos estudos de Ionin et al (2015Ionin et al ( , 2018. Após o proferimento da sentença-teste pelo fantoche, o falante fornecia seu julgamento.…”