1. L1 transfer modulates positioning bias of demonstrative-classifiers in Chinese relatives:
A contrastive study on Japanese- and Korean-speaking L2-Chinese learners
Jun Lyu & Fuyun Wu*
Shanghai International Studies University
Introduction
Research Background
Chinese is a typologically distinct language
(S)VO canonical word order
Prenominal relative clauses (RCs)
When a demonstrative-classifier phrases (DCL) co-occurs with a RC to modify the head noun (HN), it can either precede or follow the RC.
Chinese native speakers show an asymmetrical DCL positioning tendency in producing RCs (Ming, 2010; Sheng & Wu, 2013; Wu & Sheng, 2014)
Pre-RC DCL positioning bias in SRCs
DCL more accessible due to lighter morpho-syntactic weight
To signal an upcoming head noun
Post-RC DCL positioning bias in ORCs
To avoid semantic clash induced by classifier-noun mismatch
Research questions
Can Japanese- and Korean-speaking L2 learners acquire this asymmetrical positioning pattern given the following typological similarities and differences?
3. Method
Participants
26 Japanese native speakers; 27 Korean native speakers
Advanced-level Chinese learners
Experiment task
Word-based sentence production task adapted from Sheng and Wu (2013)
Procedure
Visual display: onset beep (speak now!) disappears
Time : s s 25s
Stimuli
Divided into 4 chunks
SRC: 那枚| 炸伤抗议者的| 炸弹| 引起了争议。
DCL RC HN MC predicate
ORC: 那枚| 抗议者引爆的| 炸弹| 引起了争议。
DCL RC HN MC predicate
subject-extracted RC (SRC)
(na-mei) [ __ zhashang kangyizhe DE] (na-mei) zhadan
DCL gap wound protestors DE DCL bomb
that bomb which wounded the protestors
object-extracted RC (ORC)
(na-mei) [kangyizhe yinbao __ DE] (na-mei) zhadan
DCL protestors detonate gap DE] DCL bomb
that bomb which the protestors detonated RC
MC predicate
DCL HN
Parameter
Chinese
Japanese
Korean
RC direction
prenominal
Numeral classifier √
DCL co-occurring with RC X
D (CL) positioning relative to RC
Flexible
post-RC D bias (Sheng, 2010)
* D-RC N
(Sohn, 1994: )
4. Results * * *
2. Predictions
Shallow Structure Hypothesis (Clahsen & Felser, 2006)
Post-RC DCLs regardless of RC extraction types for both groups of L2-speakers
L2-learners process sentences based on lexical-semantic information
Classifiers are semantically closer to HN
L2 representation lacks hierarchical structure, with native-like parsing strategy being restricted to local domains only
A long-distance dependency relationship between the pre-RC DCL and the HN cannot be effectively established
L1 transfer not necessarily occurs at the syntactic level (Papadopoulou & Clahsen, 2003)
Uniform patterns for the two groups despite the strength difference of L1-constraint on D positioning
Unified Competition Model (MacWhinney, 2005)
Asymmetric DCL positioning patterns for L2-Chinese speakers
L2-learners can attain native-like processing strategies
Pre-SRC DCLs to reduce processing burden
Post-ORC DCLs to avoid semantic clash
Strength of L1 transfer modulates production patterns
More likely for Japanese natives to acquire the asymmetric pattern
Strict post-RC D positioning constraint in Korean
5. Discussion
Japanese participants fully acquire native-like parsing strategy
Pre-RC bias in SRCs due to accessibility effect
long-distance dependency
Post-RC bias in ORCs to avoid semantic clash effect
sensitive to classifier-noun congruency
Korean participants
Post-RC DCL bias in ORCs only
sensitive to local classifier-noun incongruence
L1 constraint
No bias in SRCs
L1 transfer vs. accessibility
pull in different directions
Overall, experimental results support the Unified Competition Model
Selected references
Clahsen, H. & Felser, C. (2006). Continuity and Shallow structures in language processing. Applied Psycholinguistics 27:
MacWhinney, B. (2005). Extending the Competition Model. International Journal of Bilingualism 9(1):
Papadopoulou, D. & Clahsen, H. (2003). Parsing strategies in L1 and L2 sentence processing: A study of relative clause attachment in Greek. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 24:
501–528.
Sheng, Y. & Wu, F. (2013). Asymmetrical distribution of demonstrative-classifier phrases in Chinese relative clauses and its cause: a study based on spoken corpus. Modern Foreign
Languages 36(2):
Sheng, W. (2010) . Typological differences between Chinese and Japanese in demonstrative positioning in relative clauses. Japanese Language Learning and Research:
Sohn, H. (1994). The Korean Language. London: Routledge.