8. L2 Learners’ Interpretation of Operator-Variable Binding in VP Ellipsis

This article explores second language (L2) learners’ interpretation of reflexive anaphora in VP-Ellipsis by critiquing the work of Ying (2003), who applies Relevance Theory to explain elliptical anaphora. It argues against four claims made in his analysis: that L2 learners apply maximal relevance in anaphoric interpretation; that a procedural account of the impact of referential sentences on VP-ellipsis disambiguation is appropriate; that an account of anaphoric interpretation preferences should be based on processing cost; and that differences in experimental results between intermediate and advanced L2 learners are due to the use of different comprehension strategies (see Sperber, 1994). Instead, it argues: that it is not maximal but rather optimal relevance that is at work; that the key in disambiguating anaphora in VP-elliptical sentences is the achievement of an optimally relevant interpretation; that the role of contextual assumptions in anaphora resolution is to enable L2 learners to derive enough contextual effects to make it worth their effort and, in doing so, identifying (as a side effect) what they take to have been the intended referent; and that what is crucial in the use of comprehension strategies is not processing effort, but rather consistency with the second principle of relevance. Overall, all these factors provide the basis for an alternative and more comprehensive explanation of the experimental results discussed by Ying.

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Knowledge of Variable Binding in VP-Ellipsis: Language Acquisition Research and Theory Converge

Syntax ◽

10.1111/1467-9612.00056 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 52-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Claire Foley ◽

Zelmira Nunez del Prado ◽

Isabella Barbier ◽

Barbara Lust

Keyword(s):

Language Acquisition ◽

Variable Binding ◽

Vp Ellipsis

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NATIVE SPEAKERS’ VERSUS L2 LEARNERS’ SENSITIVITY TO PARALLELISM IN VP-ELLIPSIS

Studies in Second Language Acquisition ◽

10.1017/s0272263109090044 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 93-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nigel G. Duffield ◽

Ayumi Matsuo

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Native Speakers ◽

Verb Phrase Ellipsis ◽

Verb Phrase ◽

L2 Learners ◽

Cast Doubt ◽

Vp Ellipsis

This article examines sensitivity to structural parallelism in verb phrase ellipsis constructions in English native speakers as well as in three groups of advanced second language (L2) learners. The results of a set of experiments, based on those of Tanenhaus and Carlson (1990), reveal subtle but reliable differences among the various learner groups. These differences are interpreted as showing that some L2 learners can acquire sensitivity to parallelism in the absence of surface transfer. Furthermore, the results cast doubt on two conventional theoretical claims: that the parallelism effect has a syntactic basis and that it is uniquely linked to instances of surface anaphora (Hankamer & Sag, 1976).

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Relevance and L2 Learners’ Interpretation of Reflexive Anaphora in VP-Ellipsis: An Exploration of the Relationship between Relevance Theory and Typological Universals

Journal of Universal Language ◽

10.22425/jul.2005.6.1.159 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 159-194

Author(s):

Hongguang Ying

Keyword(s):

Relevance Theory ◽

L2 Learners ◽

Vp Ellipsis ◽

The Relationship

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Comparing heritage speakers and late L2-learners of European Portuguese

Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism ◽

10.1075/lab.14006.san ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 308-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Ana Lúcia Santos ◽

Cristina Flores

Keyword(s):

Redundancy Resolution ◽

Verb Movement ◽

Heritage Speakers ◽

Syntactic Property ◽

European Portuguese ◽

L2 Learners ◽

Vp Ellipsis ◽

Adverb Placement

Abstract This study compares the performance of Portuguese-German heritage children and adult L2 speakers of European Portuguese whose L1 is German with respect to two aspects of grammar, adverb placement and VP-ellipsis, which depend on a core syntactic property of the language, verb movement. The results show that both groups have acquired V-to-I and adverb placement, showing no influence of a V2 grammar. Performance in the VP-ellipsis task is more complex: heritage children produce VP-ellipsis at the level of controls, as opposed to L2 speakers; however, both L2 and heritage speakers show that cross-linguistic influence may produce a preference for pronoun substitution over VP-ellipsis in a task asking for redundancy resolution. Nevertheless, given that overall results show that heritage children perform at the level of L1 children, we take our results to support approaches to heritage bilingualism which suggest the development of an intact grammar in childhood.

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