Modeling the auxiliary phrase asymmetry in code-switched Spanish–English

Abstract

Spanish–English bilinguals rarely code-switch in the perfect structure between the Spanish auxiliary haber (“to have”) and the participle (e.g., “Ella ha voted”; “She has voted”). However, they are somewhat likely to switch in the progressive structure between the Spanish auxiliary estar (“to be”) and the participle (“Ella está voting”; “She is voting”). This phenomenon is known as the “auxiliary phrase asymmetry”. One hypothesis as to why this occurs is that estar has more semantic weight as it also functions as an independent verb, whereas haber is almost exclusively used as an auxiliary verb. To test this hypothesis, we employed a connectionist model that produces spontaneous code-switches. Through simulation experiments, we showed that i) the asymmetry emerges in the model and that ii) the asymmetry disappears when using haber also as a main verb, which adds semantic weight. Therefore, the lack of semantic weight of haber may indeed cause the asymmetry.

Is structural priming between different languages a learning effect? Modelling priming as error-driven implicit learning

“…In addition, the model reproduced a particular code-switching pattern that has been observed among Spanish-English bilinguals (Tsoukala, Frank, Van Den Bosch, Kroff, & Broersma, 2021).…”

The Bilingual Dual-path model: Simulating bilingual production, comprehension, and development

“…In another code-switching study, Tsoukala, Frank, Van Den Bosch, Valdés Kroff, and Broersma (2021) investigated why Spanish-English bilinguals might be more likely to code-switch between the Spanish auxiliary verb "estar " ("to be") and the following participle than after the auxiliary "haber " ("to have") and the participle (this phenomenen is known as the auxiliary phrase asymmetry). Specifically, the simulations tested the hypothesis by Tamargo, Valdés Kroff, and Dussias (2016) that the asymmetry occurs because "estar " has more semantic weight than "haber " since it also occurs as an independent verb, while "haber " does not, for instance in sentences such as: "la niña está cansada" ("the girl is tired ").…”