Fossilization of English as an L2 non-native constructions at the syntax-discourse interface in Romance L1 speakers

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26378/rnlael1530408

Keywords:

English as a second/foreign language, (non) null subject language, fossilization, syntax/discourse interface, adult language learning

Abstract

This study examines and compares the English as a foreign language production of two groups of speakers with respect to certain manifestations of the expression of the subject in discourse. One of the groups is of 12 advanced EFL university English majors living in Spain, the other of 9 adult Romance speakers having lived in an English speaking country for several decades. The hypothesis is tested that subject inversion with unaccusative verbs and pronominal subject omission when identified in discourse constitute fossilization phenomena as verified by their perseverance in the second group of learners despite their long and rich exposure to the L2 and their frequent interaction in it.

Author Biography

Marciano Escutia López, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

His research has centered on language acquisition: both his master thesis (“Aspects of the acquisition of Spanish reflexive pronouns by American adult students”) as well as his PhD thesis (“First steps in the acquisition of Spanish clitic pronouns by English speaking adult students”) are experimental ones examining specific topics in Aplied Linguistics. His publications have mostly dealt with the acquisition of syntactic aspects both of Spanish and English as foreign languages.

portada del número 30

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Published

2021-04-26

How to Cite

Escutia López, M. (2021). Fossilization of English as an L2 non-native constructions at the syntax-discourse interface in Romance L1 speakers. Nebrija Journal of Applied Linguistics to Language Teaching, 15(30), 118–147. https://doi.org/10.26378/rnlael1530408

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 30 (2021): Issue 30

Section

Miscellanea

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The copyright holder(s) consent to the distribution of their article under the license CC BY ND.

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