An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English

This study focuses on the linearisation of verbal complements (or arguments) and adjuncts (or modifiers) in learner advanced English. The analysis is based on minimal pairs of sequences of complements and adjuncts in predicates, as in He will investigate [the construction] [in a somewhat strange way...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Javier Pérez-Guerra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitat Politècnica de València 2018-07-01
Series:Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas
Online Access:https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/rdlyla/article/view/9075
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846095636943863808
author Javier Pérez-Guerra
author_facet Javier Pérez-Guerra
author_sort Javier Pérez-Guerra
collection DOAJ
description This study focuses on the linearisation of verbal complements (or arguments) and adjuncts (or modifiers) in learner advanced English. The analysis is based on minimal pairs of sequences of complements and adjuncts in predicates, as in He will investigate [the construction] [in a somewhat strange way which will lead to odd results] versus He will investigate [in a somewhat strange way which will lead to odd results] [the construction]. Constituent linearisation has been claimed to be potentially subject to lexical, syntactic, processing and informative determinants. This paper analyses the influence of the verbal heads and the principles ‘complements-first’, ‘end-weight’ and ‘given-new’ on the production of predicates containing two dependents. The study has two objectives: first, to determine in which areas the ordering of such constituents in English by non-native speakers is particularly influenced by their first language (Spanish); second, to assess the plausibility of the Interface Hypothesis in a pattern which affects the so-called internal and external interfaces. Results show that internal constraints such as the length of the dependents (end-weight) and the learner’s source language (i.e. compliance with complements-first) are strong predictors of ordering choices.
format Article
id doaj-art-2091f528515f471dae51456515e36fff
institution Kabale University
issn 1886-2438
1886-6298
language English
publishDate 2018-07-01
publisher Universitat Politècnica de València
record_format Article
series Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas
spelling doaj-art-2091f528515f471dae51456515e36fff2025-01-02T09:47:40ZengUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaRevista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas1886-24381886-62982018-07-011319911810.4995/rlyla.2018.90756685An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner EnglishJavier Pérez-GuerraThis study focuses on the linearisation of verbal complements (or arguments) and adjuncts (or modifiers) in learner advanced English. The analysis is based on minimal pairs of sequences of complements and adjuncts in predicates, as in He will investigate [the construction] [in a somewhat strange way which will lead to odd results] versus He will investigate [in a somewhat strange way which will lead to odd results] [the construction]. Constituent linearisation has been claimed to be potentially subject to lexical, syntactic, processing and informative determinants. This paper analyses the influence of the verbal heads and the principles ‘complements-first’, ‘end-weight’ and ‘given-new’ on the production of predicates containing two dependents. The study has two objectives: first, to determine in which areas the ordering of such constituents in English by non-native speakers is particularly influenced by their first language (Spanish); second, to assess the plausibility of the Interface Hypothesis in a pattern which affects the so-called internal and external interfaces. Results show that internal constraints such as the length of the dependents (end-weight) and the learner’s source language (i.e. compliance with complements-first) are strong predictors of ordering choices.https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/rdlyla/article/view/9075
spellingShingle Javier Pérez-Guerra
An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas
title An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
title_full An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
title_fullStr An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
title_full_unstemmed An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
title_short An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
title_sort empirical study on word order in predicates on syntax processing and information in native and learner english
url https://polipapers.upv.es/index.php/rdlyla/article/view/9075
work_keys_str_mv AT javierperezguerra anempiricalstudyonwordorderinpredicatesonsyntaxprocessingandinformationinnativeandlearnerenglish
AT javierperezguerra empiricalstudyonwordorderinpredicatesonsyntaxprocessingandinformationinnativeandlearnerenglish