VARIATION IN SUBJECT PRONOMINAL EXPRESSION IN L2 CHINESE

• Published in: Studies in second language acquisition Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 39 - 68
• Main Author: Li, Xiaoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.03.2014; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
• Subjects: Chinese; Chinese languages; Comparative Analysis; English; English as a second language learning; Error Analysis (Language); Ethnicity; Form Classes (Languages); Gender Differences; Grammar; Interlanguage; Japanese; Japanese language; Korean; Korean language; Language Patterns; Language Proficiency; Language Usage; Multivariate Analysis; Native Language; Native Speakers; Pro drop parameter; Pronouns; Racial Identification; Research Design; Romance Languages; Russian; Russian language; Second Language Learning; Second Languages; Social Class; Social Environment; Social Networks; Sociolinguistics; Speech

This study investigates subject pronominal expression in second language Chinese and compares learner usage with patterns found in their first language. The results show that (a) overt pronouns are used more for singular, +animate subjects than plural, –animate ones; (b) switch in subject surface fo...