The acquisition of grammatical gender in Spanish by English-speaking L2 learners

Arnold Gamboa Rengifo, Purdue University

Abstract

This study examines the acquisition of grammatical gender in Spanish by English-speaking L2 learners in an instructional setting. In contrast with English, in Spanish there is grammatical gender agreement between adjective-noun. adjective-determiner and determiner-noun. Current theoretical accounts differ on whether morphological variability on adult L2 performance, such as errors in gender agreement, is due to a lack of a target grammar representation or processing-related issues. Forty-seven second language learners and 10 native speakers serving as control group were tested on their oral production and written comprehension of Spanish gender agreement and assignment. Results showed that L2 learners have some knowledge of gender in Spanish; however, they cannot grammaticalize it completely. Results are discussed in terms of L1 transfer and processing difficulties in the L2 bilingual grammar.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Cuza, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Linguistics

COinS