LINGUIST List 11.1682

Thu Aug 3 2000

Qs: 2nd Lang & Lang Learning,Syntax of Comparatives

Editor for this issue: James Yuells <jameslinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Mike O'Connell, The Effect of a Second Lang on Learning Another Lang
2. Lucia Grimaldi, The Syntax of Comparative Constructions

Does anyone know of second language acquisition studies addressing
the question raised by the research design described below ?

two between-subjects group:
 1) English-1st language, Spanish 2nd language...trying to learn Italian
 2) English-1st language, Italian 2nd language...trying to learn Spanish
 3) English-1st language, no second language...trying to learn Italian
 4) English-1st language, no second language...trying to learn Spanish
 
 Is the 2nd language a help or a hindrance to learning another language ?!

If you know of any relevant work, please send your replies to

 Ari Greenberg 
 agreenbepsych.colorado.edu

If there is sufficient interest, I will ask him to post a summary.

Regards,
 Mike O'Connell

Dear LINGUIST List Readers,

I am looking for recent works on the syntax of comparative constructions
(especially for Romance languages) from a generative/minimalist point of
view, namely constructions of the type:

Laura is bigger than Max
Laura is as big as Max

but also idiomatic comparative expressions such as

Laura is mad as a hatter
Laura and Max run like thieves

and so on.

Could anybody be so kind to give me some hints?

Please reply directly to me, I'll post a summary to the list.

Thank you in advance

Lucia Grimaldi



- 
Lucia Grimaldi
Freie Universitaet Berlin
Institut fuer Romanische Philologie
Habelschwerdter Allee 45
D-14195 Berlin