Scope phenomena in English and Dutch and L2 acquisition: A Case Study

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine how a revised contrastive analysis, based on Chomsky's Government Binding Theory, can be a contribution to L2 acquisition research. The paper illustrates in detail how a contrastive approach in terms of parametric variation between languages may explain persistent errors made by Dutch learners of English. Three parameters are considered: the COMP-INFL parameter, the presence of absence of reanalysis in the VP and the categorial status of modals. These three interact in three related areas of English grammar: i) do-insertion, ii) scope of negation, and iii) modal scope (especially as regards conditionals). It is argued that errors made by Dutch learners in these areas of English grammar are due to an inadequate ‘resetting’ of the parameters involved. A prominent feature of L2 parameter setting seems to be the doubling strategy.