Preferred argument structure in the narratives of Chinese-English bilinguals and their monolingual peers

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: This paper aims to tease apart the roles of different factors that contribute to potential divergence between bilingual and monolingual speakers in the patterns of preferred argument structure (PAS) in spoken discourse. Methodology: Spoken narratives were elicited from two groups of Chinese-English bilinguals (early versus late) and their monolingual peers, using the wordless picture storybook, Frog, where are you? Data and Analysis: For each transcribed narrative, core arguments in the clauses are coded for grammatical role and information status. The data are then analyzed for conformity to four constraints that Du Bois introduced in his theory of PAS. Findings: The results revealed both similarities and differences in the PAS patterns in the narratives of the four participant groups. While the similarities provide support for the validity of the PAS theory, the differences were found to result from cross-linguistic influence, an age of second language acquisition effect, or a general effect of bilingualism. Originality: The innovative nature of this study lies in the following: (i) the examination of a new syntax–discourse interface phenomenon in bilingual development; and (ii) the intentional attempt to tease apart the effect of cross-linguistic influence and the effect of bilingualism itself on bilingual performance. Implications: Our findings suggest that it is necessary, and indeed empirically possible, to tease apart not only the effect of age of second language acquisition from the effect of cross-linguistic influence, but also these two effects from the general effect of bilingualism in bilingual development and use.