Abstract
This study investigated the acquisition of the Korean reflexive `caki` by Chinese learners of Korean using a picture-sentence verification task. Korean and Chinese reflexives are different from the English reflexive `-self` in that long distance binding interpretation is allowed (e.g., Maryi thinks that Susanj likes herselfi/j), whereas it is not in English (e.g., Maryi thinks that Susanj likes herself*i/j). However, the Korean reflexive `caki` is different from the Chinese reflexive `ziji` in terms of its preferred interpretation: long distance binding interpretation is more preferred to local binding in Korean, whereas it is the opposite in Chinese. This study focused on how Chinese learners of Korean understand `caki` in Korean compared to Korean native speakers. The results of an experiment based on a picture-sentence verification task with 31 learners (13 intermediate and 18 advanced) and 30 native controls showed that learners accepted local binding interpretation about 70% of the time regardless of their level of general proficiency, whereas native speakers accepted it only 50% of the time. The results indicate the influence of L1 transfer. Other possible influential factors were also discussed such as length of learning and length of residence. (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.