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Comprehension of grammatically modified and nonmodified sentences by second language learners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Diana C. Issidorides and
Jan H. Hulstijn
Diana C. Issidorides
Affiliation:
Free University Amsterdam
Jan H. Hulstijn*
Affiliation:
Free University Amsterdam
*
Jan H. Hulstijn, Applied Linguistics Department, Free University Amsterdam, 1105 De Bodelaan, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e-mail: hulstyn@let.vu.nl.
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Abstract

At issue in the present research is whether native speakers' “simplified” or modified utterances, as in foreigner-talk (FT), actually facilitate comprehension for nonnative speakers hearing such utterances. It was hypothesized that (grammatical) Dutch inversion sentences (AdvVSO) that have proven to be problematic in studies on Dutch second language (L2) acquisition - as reflected both in the (ungrammatical) output of L2 learners and in the (ungrammatical) FT input to L2 learners - would not be problematic in terms of comprehension, when compared with modified, ungrammatical AdvSVO and AdvSOV sentences, as long as such sentences do not express an implausible state of affairs. Three subject groups participated in the experiment: 20 English and 22 Turkish L2 learners of Dutch and 30 Dutch native speakers (control group). Subjects heard and interpreted declarative Dutch sentences, in which word order (NVN, VNN, NNV) and animacy configurations (Al [i.e., animate/inanimate], AA, LA) were systematically manipulated. Subjects had to name the noun (first or second) that functions as actor/subject of the sentence. Positive evidence was found for the hypotheses. It is concluded from the present study, as well as from a previous study (Issidorides, 1988), that linguistically more complex input will not necessarily impede comprehension. The fact that normative speakers have difficulties in producing a certain grammatical structure (e.g., the AdvVSO structure) does not imply that such a structure is also more difficult to understand in the speech of others.

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Type
Articles
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Applied Psycholinguistics , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , April 1992, pp. 147 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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