Cascadilla Proceedings Project: Paper 1044


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Proceedings of the 6th Generative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition Conference (GASLA 2002): L2 Links
edited by Juana M. Liceras, Helmut Zobl, and Helen Goodluck

ISBN 1-57473-401-6 library binding
vii + 360 pages
publication date: 2003
published by Cascadilla Proceedings Project, Somerville, MA, USA

Table of contents



Abstract

Yan-kit Ingrid Leung
Failed Features versus Full Transfer Full Access in the Acquisition of a Third Language: Evidence from Tense and Agreement
199-207 (complete pdf)

This paper investigates the verbal functional domain in third language acquisition (L3A), namely the functional projection of T(ense) and its associated features of [±finite], agreement and [±past]. The specific case involves Cantonese-English bilingual learners of French. The Failed Features Hypothesis (FFH) (Hawkins 1998, 2000; Hawkins and Chan 1997) is assumed; it is hypothesized that the L3 initial state is the L2 steady state based on (psycho)typology. Results largely support L2 transfer in the L3 initial state. However, none of the features concerned seem to have "failed" in the L2 steady state nor the L3 initial state. These findings are not consistent with the FFH. It appears that Full Transfer Full Access (Schwartz and Sprouse 1994, 1996) offers a more viable account for our L3 case.


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