LINGUIST List 13.2664

Wed Oct 16 2002

Books: Language Acquisition: Slabakova

Editor for this issue: Marisa Ferrara <marisalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Jessica Balaschak, Telicity in the Second Language: Slabakova

		
Title: Telicity in the Second Language
Series Title: Language Acquisition and Language Disorders 26
			
Publication Year: 2002
Publisher: John Benjamins
 http://www.benjamins.com/
			
Author: Roumyana Slabakova 
				
Hardback: ISBN: 1588110389, Price: USD 77.00
Hardback: ISBN: 9027224943, Price: NLG 170.00
			
Abstract:
			
The author combines a syntax-theoretical treatment of telicity marking
and an empirical study of the second language acquisition of English
telicity marking by native speakers of Bulgarian, a Slavic
language. It is argued that Vendler's lexical classes of verbs
(states, activities, accomplishments and achievements) can be
represented in four phrase structure templates, where lexical
properties of the verb and of the object compositionally determine
telicity. A parameterized distinction between English and Slavic
aspect is proposed. The book addresses two major acquisition issues:
(1) what is the nature of the initial hypothesis Bulgarian learners of
English entertain regarding telicity marking (i.e., is there native
language transfer)? (2) are adult learners capable of resetting the
telicity marking parameter? Both L1 transfer and parameter resetting
are experimentally supported. In addition, the study investigates the
L2 acquisition of a cluster of complex predicate constructions,
purportedly related to the telicity parameter in the grammatical
competence and in child language acquisition of English.
			
Lingfield(s): Language Acquisition,

Written In: English (Language Code: ENG)