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Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism
Vol. 7:5 (2017) ► pp.583–613

Language interaction effects in bimodal bilingualism

Argument omission in the languages of hearing ASL-English bilinguals

| Central Connecticut State University

The focus of the paper is a phenomenon well documented in both monolingual and bilingual English acquisition: argument omission. Previous studies have shown that bilinguals acquiring a null and a non-null argument language simultaneously tend to exhibit unidirectional cross-language interaction effects — the non-null argument language remains unaffected but over-suppliance of overt elements in the null argument language is observed. Here subject and object omission in both ASL (null argument) and English (non-null argument) of young ASL-English bilinguals is examined. Results demonstrate that in spontaneous English production, ASL-English bilinguals omit subjects and objects to a higher rate, for longer, and in unexpected environments when compared with English monolinguals and bilinguals; no effect on ASL is observed. Findings also show that the children differentiate between their two languages — rates of argument omission in English are different during ASL vs. English target sessions differ. Implications for the general theory of bilingual effects are offered.

Keywords: argument omission, bimodal bilingualism, cross-linguistic influence
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Previous research: Argument omission in english
    • 2.1Monolinguals
    • 2.2Bilinguals
  • 3.Study: ASL-English bilinguals
    • 3.1Predictions
    • 3.2Subjects and methodology
    • 3.3Part 1: English-target
      • 3.3.1Results
      • 3.3.2Analysis at later stages (Stages 3–4)
    • 3.4Part 2 (follow-up): ASL-target
      • 3.4.1Results
      • 3.4.2Analysis
  • 4.Discussion
    • 4.1Overview of the results
    • 4.2Bimodality
  • 5.Account and directions
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 24 June 2016
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lab.13047.kou
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