After the Null Subject Parameter: Acquisition of the Null-Overt Contrast in Spanish

• Published in: Language learning and development Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 171 - 200
• Main Authors: Forsythe, Hannah, Greeson, Daniel, Schmitt, Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Psychology Press 03.04.2022; Routledge
• Subjects: Computational Linguistics; Foreign Countries; Form Classes (Languages); Grammar; Language Acquisition; Language Variation; Low Income Groups; Mothers; Parent Child Relationship; Preferences; Preschool Children; Spanish; Mexico (Mexico City)

In many so-called canonical null subject languages, null and overt subject pronouns have contrasting referential preferences: null subjects tend to maintain reference to the preceding subject while overt pronominal subjects do not. We propose that children acquire this contrast by initially restrict...