Cover not available
Part of
L3 Syntactic Transfer: Models, new developments and implications
Edited by Tanja Angelovska and Angela Hahn
[Bilingual Processing and Acquisition 5] 2017
► pp. 173–194

Chapter 8
L3 morphosyntactic effects on L1 vs. L2 systems

The Differential Stability Hypothesis

This study investigates the extent to which L1 versus adult L2 syntactic systems resist influence from a third language (L3) via observation of the effect of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) on Spanish in L1 Spanish/L2 English and L1 English/L2 Spanish bilinguals that are advanced L3 BP speakers. We examine the phenomenon of raising across a dative experiencer out of a TP complement (TPExp), which is acceptable in BP and English but not Spanish. Spanish data from an acceptability judgment task indicate that although both experimental groups rate TPExp higher than the Spanish control, L2 Spanish speakers are more accepting of TPExp than L1 Spanish speakers and Spanish controls. We take these results to support our hypothesis of differential stability conditioned by age of acquisition.

Keywords: third language (L3) acquisition, multilingualism, morphosyntax, regressive transfer
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Regressive transfer
    • L1 morphosyntactic attrition
    • The Differential Stability Hypothesis
  • Subject-to-subject raising across a dative experiencer in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese
  • Research questions and predictions
  • Methodology
    • Participants
    • Acceptability judgment task
  • Results
    • Control data in Spanish and BP
    • Spanish control and learner comparison
  • Discussion
    • L1 Spanish versus L2 Spanish morphosyntactic representations
    • L1 versus L2 stability
    • Individual variation
    • The DSH across domains
    • Future directions
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 15 August 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/bpa.5.09ama
References
Ausín, A., & Depiante, M.
(2000) On the syntax of parecer with and without an experiencer. In H. Campos, A. Herburger, A. Morales-Front, & T. J. Walsh (Eds.), Hispanic linguistics at the turn of the millennium (pp. 155–170). Sommerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.Google Scholar
Cabrelli Amaro, J.
(2016) Testing the Phonological Permeability Hypothesis: L3 phonological effects on L1 versus L2 systems. International Journal of Bilingualism. DOI logo.Google Scholar
(2013) The Phonological Permeability Hypothesis: Measuring regressive L3 influence to test L1 and L2 phonological representations. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville.Google Scholar
Cabrelli Amaro, J., Amaro, J. F., & Rothman, J.
(2015) The relationship between L3 transfer and structural similarity across development: Raising across an experiencer in Brazilian Portuguese. In H. Peukert (Ed.), Transfer effects in multilingual language development (Hamburg Studies on Linguistic Diversity 4) (pp. 21–52). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.Google Scholar
Cabrelli Amaro, J., & Rothman, J.
(2010) On L3 acquisition and phonological permeability: A new test case for debates on the mental representation of non-native phonological systems. IRAL, International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 48(2–3), 275–296. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Campos-Dintrans, G., Pires, A., & Rothman, J.
(2014) Subject-to-subject raising and the syntax of tense in L2 Spanish: A Full Access approach. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 17(1), 38–55. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Colman, A., Morris, C., & Preson, C.
(1997) Comparing rating scales of different lengths: Equivalence of scores from 5-point and 7-point scales. Psychological Reports, 80(2), 355–362. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Dorian, N.
(1981) Language death: The life cycle of a Scottish Gaelic dialect. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Foote, R.
(2009) Transfer and L3 acquisition: The role of typology. In Y. I. Leung (Ed.), Third language acquisition and Universal Grammar (pp. 89–114). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar
García Mayo, M. d. P., & Rothman, J.
(2012) L3 morphosyntax in the generative tradition: The initial stages and beyond. In J. Cabrelli Amaro, S. Flynn, & J. Rothman (Eds.), Third language acquisition in adulthood (Studies in Bilingualism 46) (pp. 9–32). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Giancaspro, D., Halloran, B., & Iverson, M.
(2015) Examining L3 transfer: The acquisition of differential object marking in L3 Brazilian Portuguese. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 18(2), 191–207. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Gürel, A.
(2007) (Psycho)linguistic determinants of L1 attrition. In B. Köpke, M. Schmid, M. Keijzer, & S. Dostert (Eds.), Language attrition: Theoretical perspectives (Studies in Bilingualism 33) (pp. 99–120). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hopp, H.
(2011) Extended patterns and computational complexity. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 1(1), 43–47. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Hui, B.
(2010) Backward transfer from L3 French to L2 English production of relative clauses by L1 Cantonese speakers in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(2), 45–60.Google Scholar
Iverson, M.
(2009) N-drop at the initial state of L3 Portuguese: Comparing simultaneous and additive bilinguals of English/Spanish. In A. Pires & J. Rothman (Eds.), Minimalist inquiries into child and adult language acquisition: Case studies across Portuguese (pp. 221–244). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2012) Advanced language attrition of Spanish in contact with Brazilian Portuguese. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Iowa, Iowa City.Google Scholar
Mehotcheva, T.
(2010) After the fiesta is over: Foreign language attrition of Spanish in Dutch and German Erasmus students. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Netherlands.Google Scholar
Montrul, S.
(2011) Morphological errors in Spanish second language learners and heritage speakers. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 33(2), 155–161. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Montrul, S., Dias, R., & Santos, H.
(2011) Clitics and object expression in the L3 acquisition of Brazilian Portuguese: Structural similarity matters for transfer. Second Language Research, 27(1), 21–58. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Montrul, S., Foote, R., & Perpiñán, S.
(2008) Gender agreement in adult second language learners and Spanish heritage speakers: The effects of age and context of acquisition. Language Learning, 58(3), 503–553. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Rothman, J., & Pascual y Cabo, D.
(2013) Generative approaches to Spanish second language acquisition. In K. Geeslin (Ed.), Handbook of Spanish second language acquisition (pp. 46–63). Malden, MA: Blackwell. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Rothman, J.
(2015) Linguistic and cognitive motivations for the Typological Primacy Model (TPM) of third language (L3) transfer: Timing of acquisition and proficiency considered. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 18(2), 179–190. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Rothman, J., & Iverson, M.
(2011) Flexionar ou não flexionar, eis a questão: Infinitivos no português como segunda língua (L2). Letras de Hoje, 46(3), 28–43.Google Scholar
Schmid, M. S., & Mehotcheva, T.
(2012) Foreign language attrition. Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1(1), 102–124. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Sorace, A.
(2011) Pinning down the concept of “interface” in bilingualism. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 1(1), 1–33. DOI logo.Google Scholar
(2012) Pinning down the concept of interface in bilingual development: A reply to peer commentaries. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 2(2), 209–217. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Sorace, A., & Filiaci, F.
(2006a) Anaphora resolution in near-native speakers of Italian. Second Language Research, 22(3), 339–368. DOI logo.Google Scholar
(2006b) Anaphora resolution in near-native speakers of Italian. Second Language Research, 22(3), 339–368. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Sorace, A., & Serratrice, L.
(2009) Internal and external interfaces in bilingual language development: Beyond structural overlap. International Journal of Bilingualism, 13(2), 195–210. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Tsimpli, I.
(2007) First language attrition from a minimalist perspective. In B. Köpke, M. Schmid, M. Keijzer, & S. Dostert (Eds.), Language attrition: Theoretical perspectives (Studies in Bilingualism 33) (pp. 33–83). Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Tsimpli, I., Sorace, A., Heycock, C., & Filiaci, F.
(2004) First language attrition and syntactic subjects: A study of Greek and Italian near-native speakers of English. International Journal of Bilingualism, 8(3), 257–277. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Xu, X.
(2010) English language attrition and retention in Chinese and Dutch university students. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Groningen, Netherlands.Google Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 4 other publications

Martin, Clara D. & Antje Stoehr
2023. In Search of Variables Explaining Individual Differences in Second Language Learning and Processing: A Commentary on “The Neurocognitive Underpinnings of Second Language Processing: Knowledge Gains From the Past and Future Outlook”. Language Learning 73:S2 ► pp. 155 ff. DOI logo
Puig-Mayenco, Eloi
2023. The sandwich effect in L3 acquisition: A look at the Catalan and Spanish grammars of highly advanced speakers of L3 English. International Journal of Bilingualism 27:6 ► pp. 996 ff. DOI logo
Rothman, Jason, Jorge González Alonso & Eloi Puig-Mayenco
2019. Third Language Acquisition and Linguistic Transfer, DOI logo
Stoehr, Antje, Mina Jevtović, Angela de Bruin & Clara D. Martin
2023. Phonetic and Lexical Crosslinguistic Influence in Early Spanish–Basque–English Trilinguals. Language Learning DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 12 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.