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Theoretical and Methodological Developments in Processability Theory
Edited by Kristof Baten, Aafke Buyl, Katja Lochtman and Mieke Van Herreweghe
[Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching 4] 2015
► pp. 71–104

Chapter 4. The Acquisition of the Ergative Case in Hindi as a Foreign Language

ORCID logo | Ghent University
| Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen)

Using the framework of Processability Theory (PT), this chapter examines the development of the Hindi case system in the interlanguage of Dutch-speaking foreign language learners. A number of studies have already adopted the PT framework to describe, predict and explain the development of case marking systems in different languages (e.g., German, Russian and Serbian). These studies demonstrated that PT was a suitable framework for predicting and explaining case development. Because German, Russian and Serbian are accusative languages, the question arises whether PT as a conceptual framework is also applicable to the foreign language acquisition of a language with ergative features such as Hindi. The present chapter therefore addresses case development in L2 Hindi, thereby testing the claim that PT possesses universal applicability. Spontaneous oral production data were collected from 11 foreign language learners of Hindi. In accordance with PT, the study results indicate that three stages of development occur; in particular, learners begin with no feature unification, transition through direct mapping, and eventually attain feature unification.

Published online: 11 December 2015
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/palart.4.04bat
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Baten, Kristof & Aaricia Ponnet
2023. Chapter 4. Extending PT to split ergative marking and differential object marking. In Processability and Language Acquisition in the Asia-Pacific Region [Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching, 9], ► pp. 91 ff. DOI logo
Bhatia, Archna & Silvina Montrul
2020. Chapter 10. Comprehension of Differential Object Marking by Hindi heritage speakers. In The Acquisition of Differential Object Marking [Trends in Language Acquisition Research, 26], ► pp. 261 ff. DOI logo
Bhatia, Archna & Silvina Montrul
2020. Chapter 10. Comprehension of Differential Object Marking by Hindi heritage speakers. In The Acquisition of Differential Object Marking [Trends in Language Acquisition Research, 26], ► pp. 261 ff. DOI logo
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2019. Case Marking in Hindi as the Weaker Language. Frontiers in Psychology 10 DOI logo
Ponnet, Aaricia, Kristof Baten & Saartje Verbeke
2016. The acquisition of differential object marking in Hindi as a foreign language. Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics 5:2 ► pp. 101 ff. DOI logo
Ponnet, Aaricia & Ludovic De Cuypere
2024. The acquisition of Hindi split-ergativity and differential object marking by Dutch L1 speakers: systematicity and variation. Language Acquisition 31:2 ► pp. 145 ff. DOI logo

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