Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English

Anika Lloyd-Smith; Henrik Gyllstad; Tanja Kupisch; Stefano  Quaglia

doi:10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208

Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English

Anika Lloyd-Smith, Henrik Gyllstad, Tanja Kupisch, Stefano Quaglia

University of Konstanz

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	435-451
Journal	International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
Volume	24
Issue number	3
Early online date	2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208
Publication status	Published - 2021

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Comparative Language Studies and Linguistics

Free keywords

wh-questions
Heritage Speakers
L3 acquisition
syntax
Italian

Access to Document

10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208

Cite this

@article{64aaf92b0b5f430785f56a20fca2c7cf,

title = "Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English",

abstract = "This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian.",

keywords = "wh-questions, Heritage Speakers, L3 acquisition, syntax, Italian",

author = "Anika Lloyd-Smith and Henrik Gyllstad and Tanja Kupisch and Stefano Quaglia",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

pages = "435--451",

journal = "International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism",

issn = "1367-0050",

publisher = "Taylor & Francis",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English

AU - Lloyd-Smith, Anika

AU - Gyllstad, Henrik

AU - Kupisch, Tanja

AU - Quaglia, Stefano

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian.

AB - This study examines cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in L3 English in German-dominant heritage speakers (HSs) of Italian. Specifically, we investigate whether a higher proficiency in the heritage language Italian increases the potential for CLI from that language. To this end, 21 adult-aged Italian-German early bilinguals and 32 monolingual controls (L1 speakers of Italian, German, or English) completed an acceptability judgement task that tested the acquisition of embedded wh-questions in English (while also controlling for the acquisition of the relevant properties in German and Italian). Language dominance was assessed using a yes/no vocabulary test and a proficiency index based on various aspects of self-reported language use and proficiency. Our results suggest that syntactic CLI occurs from both languages and that this is unrelated to overall dominance in German or proficiency in Italian.

KW - wh-questions

KW - Heritage Speakers

KW - L3 acquisition

KW - syntax

KW - Italian

U2 - 10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208

DO - 10.1080/13670050.2018.1472208

M3 - Article

SN - 1367-0050

VL - 24

SP - 435

EP - 451

JO - International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism

JF - International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism

IS - 3

ER -

Heritage language proficiency does not predict syntactic CLI into L3 English

Abstract

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Free keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this