Spanish and English Contact and The Order of Morpheme Acquisition
Subject Area
Second Language Acquisition
Abstract
In both first language (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition there appears to be something approaching a 'natural order' of the acquisition of morphemes. In addition there are peculiarities which are part of the morphosyntax of any language influencing the order of morpheme acquisition in L2, whether it be from the L1, or as in the case of simultaneous bilinguals, another L1. Using Myers-Scotton's (2002) 4-M model to analyze and discuss bilingual and second language data, we show this tendency for speakers to acquire language morphology in a natural order, regardless of the L1, but with special reference to Spanish and English in contact we also show that the two languages can influence each other and make changes in the order of acquisition. Implications are indicated regarding language pedagogy, especially English and Spanish as second languages or when both languages are acquired simultaneously.
Brief Bio Note
Daniel Smith is an associate professor of Spanish at Clemson University in South Carolina. He teaches Spanish and linguistics and his research interests are primarily language contact, especially Spanish and English in contact, and second language acquisition.
Keywords
bilingualism, language acquisition, interference, convergence, morpheme acquisition
Location
Room 210
Presentation Year
2018
Start Date
4-5-2018 2:15 PM
Embargo
11-3-2017
Recommended Citation
Smith, Daniel, "Spanish and English Contact and The Order of Morpheme Acquisition" (2018). South East Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures (SECCLL). 40.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/seccll/2018/2018/40
Spanish and English Contact and The Order of Morpheme Acquisition
Room 210
In both first language (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition there appears to be something approaching a 'natural order' of the acquisition of morphemes. In addition there are peculiarities which are part of the morphosyntax of any language influencing the order of morpheme acquisition in L2, whether it be from the L1, or as in the case of simultaneous bilinguals, another L1. Using Myers-Scotton's (2002) 4-M model to analyze and discuss bilingual and second language data, we show this tendency for speakers to acquire language morphology in a natural order, regardless of the L1, but with special reference to Spanish and English in contact we also show that the two languages can influence each other and make changes in the order of acquisition. Implications are indicated regarding language pedagogy, especially English and Spanish as second languages or when both languages are acquired simultaneously.
