Null objects in the L2 acquisition of Brazilian Portuguese by English-speaking learners

Mara Raquel Barbosa, Purdue University

Abstract

This study examines the L2 acquisition of null objects in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) by adult English-speaking learners in an instructional setting. In contrast with English, object omission in BP is allowed in most contexts. In other contexts, however, object omission is ungrammatical, as it is in English. Following the assumption of L1 transfer, it was expected that English-speaking learners would have difficulties with target object omission in BP, even at high levels of bilingual proficiency, due to transfer of L1 options. 20 participants (12 L2 learners and 8 native speakers of BP) took part in the study. Knowledge of the semantic features licensing object drop (animacy and specificity) was tested via a Sentence Completion Task (SCT) and an Acceptability Judgment Task (AJT). The results of the SCT showed an overgeneralization of null objects to contexts where overt objects were required, in contrast to what was expected. The results of the AJT showed significant difficulties evidenced in the acceptance of unacceptable overt objects, as predicted. It is concluded that L1 transfer remains preventing the complete specification of the semantic properties constraining object omission in spoken BP.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Cuza, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Linguistics|Foreign Language

COinS