Cebu International EFL Conference

Abstract of paper

Author

James Strang
University of York
Hong Kong/

Title
Problems with Acquisition of Tense for Cantonese L1 Speakers of English.

Abstract
Much research into second language (L2) acquisition addresses the issue of morphological variation. These questions are particularly pertinent for learners of English whose first language (L1) is Chinese, where the formal syntactic features associated with past and finiteness are assumed to be absent. Hawkins and Liszka (2003) see variation as a consequence of a general inability to reset formal syntactic features of the L1, leading to a generalized problem with L2 morphological competence. This contrasts with Lardiere (2007) and White (2008), who argue that difficulties do not arise from any syntactic deficit.

This paper reports the results of a study of Cantonese learners of English that suggests that there is a syntactic deficit in their L2 English. The study found a high level of errors of commission among the developmental group as in (1).

1. When I was small I have one but now I didn’t.

As well as the oversuppliance of verb be in examples such as (2)

(2)           This is can do.

Previous studies (e.g. White 2008) have assumed that errors of commission such as (1) are typically uncommon. However, analysis of a high level Cantonese L1 speaker’s L2 English reveals errors of commission are a persistent feature of Chinese L1 speakers L2 English, suggesting a permanent syntactic deficit.

The deficit is partly overcome by a reorganisation of lexico-semantic features. The occurrence of both morphological variability and the absence of formal features in the L2 grammars suggests that in L2 English pedagogy the focus of instruction and materials development should shift from grammatical type towards lexical token in order to best assist the acquisition of morphology for L1 speakers of Chinese.

Hawkins, R. and Liszka, S.(2003) Locating the source of defective past tense marking    in advanced L2 English speakers. In R. van Hout, A. Hulk, F. Kuiken, and R. Towell, (eds) The interface between syntax and lexicon in second language acquisition. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Lardiere, D. (2007) Ultimate Attainment in Second Language Acquisition: A Case
Study, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

White, L. (2008) Some puzzling features of L2 features. In J.M. Liceras, H. Zobl & H Goodluck (eds.), The Role of Formal Features in Second Language Acquisition, pp. 385-409. Lawrence Erlbaum.