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Article published In:
Journal of Second Language Studies
Vol. 5:1 (2022) ► pp.144–169

Acquiring the core-peripheral distinction in split intransitivity

Evidence from L2 English

| Huaiyin Normal University
| Tohoku University

This study presents the results of an experimental investigation into the L2 acquisition of the core-peripheral distinction in the syntax of split intransitivity by L1 Mandarin EFL learners to verify whether or not their L2 acquisition is lexically constrained by the Split Intransitivity Hierarchy, which predicts that core verbs have primacy in both L1 and L2 acquisition over peripheral ones (Sorace, 2000, 2004, 2011). Two diagnostics of English split intransitivity, the prenominal past participles (PPPs) and the for hours constructions, were used to test native English speakers and Mandarin EFL learners’ gradient acceptability with respect to core-peripheral verb classes. The results of an acceptability judgment test show that both native speakers and nonnative speakers are sensitive to the core-peripheral distinction in the two diagnostics, and EFL learners exhibit a native-like sensitivity to core unaccusatives in PPPs but not in the for hours constructions. The results confirm that the core-peripheral distinction can be accounted for neither by L1 transfer nor L2 input, which suggests for the behavior is due to direct access to semantic universals in the L2 acquisition of split intransitivity syntax.

Keywords: the core-peripheral distinction, split intransitivity, prenominal past participles, the for hours constructions, primacy
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1The split intransitivity hierarchy
    • 2.2Diagnostics of split intransitivity in English and Mandarin
      • 2.2.1Prenominal past participles
      • 2.2.2The for hours constructions
    • 2.3Research questions
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Participants
    • 3.2Task and materials
    • 3.3Procedure
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Results of PPPs
    • 4.2Results of the for hours constructions
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1L2 sensitivity to the core-peripheral distinction
    • 5.2Primacy of core verbs in L2 acquisition
  • 6.Conclusion
  • References
Published online: 6 April 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/jsls.19043.wu
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