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Specific and generic subjects in the Italian of German-Italian simultaneous bilinguals and L2 learners

Kupisch, Tanja LU (2012) In Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 15(4). p.736-756
Abstract
This study investigates definite articles in specific and generic subject nominals in Italian spoken by adult simultaneous bilinguals (2L1ers) and second language learners (L2ers). The study focuses on plural and mass DPs, in which German and Italian differ. The aims are to (i) compare acquisition outcomes between the weaker and the stronger language in 2L1 acquisition, (ii) see in a comparison with L2ers whether the phenomenon under investigation, which is typically acquired late (after age 6;0), lacks age of onset effects, and (iii) discuss predictions for the directionality of cross-linguistic influence. Twenty German-Italian 2L1ers and 15 advanced L2ers of Italian with German as their native language were tested in an acceptability... (More)
This study investigates definite articles in specific and generic subject nominals in Italian spoken by adult simultaneous bilinguals (2L1ers) and second language learners (L2ers). The study focuses on plural and mass DPs, in which German and Italian differ. The aims are to (i) compare acquisition outcomes between the weaker and the stronger language in 2L1 acquisition, (ii) see in a comparison with L2ers whether the phenomenon under investigation, which is typically acquired late (after age 6;0), lacks age of onset effects, and (iii) discuss predictions for the directionality of cross-linguistic influence. Twenty German-Italian 2L1ers and 15 advanced L2ers of Italian with German as their native language were tested in an acceptability judgment task and a truth value judgment task. The results show clear differences between Italian as the weaker and as the stronger language in 2L1 acquisition, and similarities between Italian as L2 and as the weaker language in 2L1 acquisition. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
simultaneous bilingualism, weaker and stronger language, L2 acquisition, specific and generic DPs
in
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition
volume
15
issue
4
pages
736 - 756
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000308583000005
  • scopus:84866107598
ISSN
1366-7289
DOI
10.1017/S1366728911000691
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3817e0e1-e2b8-4c21-90e7-c7a2c2bab6d3 (old id 3146766)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:02:52
date last changed
2022-04-12 01:20:37
@article{3817e0e1-e2b8-4c21-90e7-c7a2c2bab6d3,
  abstract     = {{This study investigates definite articles in specific and generic subject nominals in Italian spoken by adult simultaneous bilinguals (2L1ers) and second language learners (L2ers). The study focuses on plural and mass DPs, in which German and Italian differ. The aims are to (i) compare acquisition outcomes between the weaker and the stronger language in 2L1 acquisition, (ii) see in a comparison with L2ers whether the phenomenon under investigation, which is typically acquired late (after age 6;0), lacks age of onset effects, and (iii) discuss predictions for the directionality of cross-linguistic influence. Twenty German-Italian 2L1ers and 15 advanced L2ers of Italian with German as their native language were tested in an acceptability judgment task and a truth value judgment task. The results show clear differences between Italian as the weaker and as the stronger language in 2L1 acquisition, and similarities between Italian as L2 and as the weaker language in 2L1 acquisition.}},
  author       = {{Kupisch, Tanja}},
  issn         = {{1366-7289}},
  keywords     = {{simultaneous bilingualism; weaker and stronger language; L2 acquisition; specific and generic DPs}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{736--756}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Bilingualism: Language and Cognition}},
  title        = {{Specific and generic subjects in the Italian of German-Italian simultaneous bilinguals and L2 learners}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1366728911000691}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1366728911000691}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}