The Acquisition of Second Language Spanish Morphosyntax

Rothman, Jason and Alonso, Jorge González and Miller, David (2018) The Acquisition of Second Language Spanish Morphosyntax. In: The Cambridge Handbook of Spanish Linguistics :. Cambridge University Press, pp. 689-715. ISBN 9781107174825

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of relevant research on the acquisition of Spanish morphosyntax in the context of second language (L2) acquisition (SLA). We cover a variety of topics in both the verbal and nominal domains in an attempt to give the reader a well-rounded view of what is known regarding L2 morphosyntactic acquisition of Spanish, the broader impact Spanish has had on SLA research as well as its impact on linguistic theory more generally. In so doing, we present a wealth of research from multiple theoretical perspectives and covering an impressive array of experimental methods-e.g. comprehension, production and processing from, for example, formal (i.e., generative) and usage-based approaches. The chapter’s aim is to be both a window into the variety and depth of the literature, as well as an analytical tool that offers a broader perspective on what the available data tell us overall about the acquisition of Spanish in non-native contexts, the role various L1s play differentially as regards effects on L2 Spanish acquisition as well as the relative weights of variable such age, input and environment play in SLA.