The present volume provides a cross-linguistic perspective on the development of tense-aspect in L2 acquisition. Data-based studies included in this volume deal with the analysis of a wide range of target languages: Chinese, English, Italian, French, Japanese, and Spanish. Theoretical frameworks used to evaluate the nature of the empirical evidence range from generative grammar to functional-typological linguistics. Several studies focus on the development of past tense markers, but other issues such as the acquisition of a future marker are also addressed. An introductory chapter outlines some theoretical and methodological issues that serves as relevant preliminary reading for most of the chapters included in this volume. Additionally, a preliminary chapter offers a substantive review of first language acquisition of tense-aspect morphology. The analysis of the various languages included in this volume significantly advances our understanding of this phenomenon, and will serve as an important basis for future research.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii Contributors ix Abbreviations used in glosses x 1. L2 acquisition of tense-aspect morphology M. Rafael Salaberry and Yasuhiro Shirai 1 2. The first language acquisition of tense and aspect: A review Richard Weist 21 3. The dimensions of pastness Roger W. Andersen 79 4. Temporal relations in learner varieties: Grammaticalization and discourse construction Colette Noyau 107 5. Analyzing aspect Kathleen Bardovi-Harlig 129 6. The development of tense-aspect in English as a second language and the variable influence of inherent aspect Alex Housen 155 7. The aspect hypothesis in naturalistic L2 acquisition: What uninflected and non-target-like verb forms in early interlanguage tell us Andreas Rohde 199 8. How do learners acquire the classical three categories of temporality? Evidence from L2 Italian Anna Giacalone-Ramat 221 9. Lexical aspect in child second language acquisition of temporal morphology: A bidirectional study Sonia Rocca 249 10. Information structure in dialogic future plans: A study of Italian native speakers and Swedish preadvanced and advanced learners of Italian Eva Wiberg 285 11. Reference to past events in dialogue: The acquisition of tense and aspect by advanced learners of French Maria Kihlstedt 323 12. On viewpoint aspect interpretation and its L2 acquisition: A UG perspective Roumyana Slabakova and Silvina Andrea Montrul 363 13. Tense and aspect in the selection of Spanish past tense verbal morphology M. Rafael Salaberry 397 14. The acquisition and use of perfective aspect in Mandarin Patricia Duff and Kathleen Bardovi-Harlig 417 15. The prototype hypothesis of tense-aspect acquisition in second language Yasuhiro Shirai 455 Index 479