Full Description
This volume presents recent generative research on the nature of grammars of child second language (L2) acquirers -- a learner population whose exposure to an L2 occurs between the ages of 4 to 8. The main goal is to define child L2 acquisition in relation to other types of acquisition such as child monolingual and bilingual acquisition, adult L2 acquisition, and specific language impairment. This comparative perspective opens up new angles for the discussion of currently debated issues such as the role of Universal Grammar in constraining development, developmental sequences in L2, maturational influences on the 'growth' of grammar, critical period effects for different linguistic domains, initial state and ultimate attainment in relation to length of exposure, and L1-transfer in relation to age of onset. These issues are explored using longitudinal, cross-sectional, and experimental data from L2 children acquiring a range of languages, including Dutch, English, French, and Greek.
Contents
1. Part I. Introduction; 2. Recent perspectives in child second language acquisition (by Haznedar, Belma); 3. Progressive aspect in child L2 English (by Ionin, Tania); 4. Child second language acquisition or successive first language acquisition? (by Meisel, Jurgen M.); 5. Part II. The acquisition of D-elements; 6. Misrepresentation of Dutch neuter gender in older bilingual children? (by Brouwer, Susanne); 7. Comparing child and adult L2 acquisition of the Greek DP: Effects of age and construction (by Chondrogianni, Vicky); 8. Part III. Morphological variability; 9. The development of copula and auxiliary be and overgeneration of be in child L2 English (by Gavruseva, Elena); 10. Truncation in child L2 acquisition: Evidence from verbless utterances (by Prevost, Philippe); 11. The status of subjects in early child L2 English (by Mobaraki, Mohsen); 12. The morphology/syntax interface in child L2 acquisition: Evidence from verbal morphology (by Geckin, Vasfiye); 13. Part IV. Comparisons of child L1, child L2 and adult L2; 14. Testing the Domain-by-Age Model: Inflection and placement of Dutch verbs (by Blom, Elma); 15. Comparing child L2 development with adult L2 development: How to measure L2 proficiency (by Unsworth, Sharon); 16. Part V. Typical vs. atypical child L2 acquisition; 17. Tense as a clinical marker in English L2 acquisition with language delay/impairment (by Paradis, Johanne); 18. Index
