Abstract
This study examines the role of previously known language in L3 Brazilian Portuguese (BP) object expression acquisition. It investigates the claims of the main models of L3 transfer, the cumulative enhancement model (CEM) (Flynn et al. 2004), the L2 status factor (Bardel and Falk 2007) and the typological proximity model (TPM) (Rothman 2011) in both comprehension and production tasks. It also aims at measuring the extent of transfer effects in comprehension and production. Participants (N = 33) were divided into three groups, a mirror image group of L3 BP learners who already knew English and Spanish, and a native control group. They performed a self-paced reading task and a story telling task, which focused on object clitics in BP. Results indicate early convergence to the BP grammar by the L3 learners in what refers to object expression. They also suggest that, although no major effects of transfer were obtained, clitic placement errors in the production task and preference for inanimate and non-specific contexts for null objects can be traced to Spanish, independent of order of acquisition, providing evidence in favor of the TPM. Finally, comprehension seems to override the effects of language transfer earlier than production.
Highlights
In the past, research on third language (L3) acquisition was conducted under the scope of second language (L2) acquisition, based on the assumption that the process of acquiring a further non-native language is the same as acquiring the first one [1]
The authors found similar patterns to those for L1 Spanish acquisition of L2 English, that is, transfer was found to originate from L2 Russian, a language similar to L3 English in head-direction, and to have a facilitative effect on L3 acquisition. They claim these results suggest that prior complementizer phrase (CP) development can influence development of CP structure in subsequent language acquisition, and that experience in any prior language can be drawn upon in subsequent acquisition
The data obtained in this study provides further support to the findings by Montrul et al in what refers to clitic placement errors [12]
Summary
Research on third language (L3) acquisition was conducted under the scope of second language (L2) acquisition, based on the assumption that the process of acquiring a further non-native language is the same as acquiring the first one [1]. L3 acquisition should be a subfield of its own [2], since the previously known languages can impact on the acquisition process of a third one. One of the most investigated questions in the L3 acquisition field has been the roles played by the previously known languages in L3 interlanguage development [6]. Researchers have sought to identify the potential source of transfer in L3 acquisition initial states, as well as the interplay between the known languages in the learners’ brain. Flynn et al claim that all languages previously known by the learner can potentially (positively) influence the development of subsequent language learning [7]. Rothman claims language transfer depends on how structurally related the three languages are, and language transfer occurs based on typology [6]
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