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Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English

Lloyd-Smith, Anika ; Gyllstad, Henrik LU ; Kupisch, Tanja and Quaglia, Stefano (2021) In International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 24(3). p.435-451
Abstract
This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various... (More)
This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
L3 acquisition, heritage speakers, language dominance, embedded wh-questions, syntactic CLI
in
International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
volume
24
issue
3
pages
435 - 451
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85096045529
ISSN
1367-0050
DOI
10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
64aaf92b-0b5f-4307-85f5-6a20fca2c7cf
date added to LUP
2018-05-02 12:29:23
date last changed
2022-04-25 06:53:26
@article{64aaf92b-0b5f-4307-85f5-6a20fca2c7cf,
  abstract     = {{This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian.}},
  author       = {{Lloyd-Smith, Anika and Gyllstad, Henrik and Kupisch, Tanja and Quaglia, Stefano}},
  issn         = {{1367-0050}},
  keywords     = {{L3 acquisition; heritage speakers; language dominance; embedded wh-questions; syntactic CLI}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{435--451}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism}},
  title        = {{Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}