On L2 Clustering and Resetting the Null Subject Parameter in L2 Spanish : Implications and Observations

Rothman, Jason and Iverson, Michael (2007) On L2 Clustering and Resetting the Null Subject Parameter in L2 Spanish : Implications and Observations. Hispania, 90 (2). pp. 328-341. ISSN 0018-2133

Abstract

In this article, along with others, we take the position that the Null-Subject Parameter (NSP) (Chomsky 1981; Rizzi 1982) cluster of properties is narrower in scope than some originally contended. We test for the resetting of the NSP by English L2 learners of Spanish at the intermediate level, including poverty-of-the stimulus knowledge of the Overt Pronoun Constraint (Montalbetti 1984). Our participants are tested before and after five months' residency in Spain in an effort to see if increased amounts of native exposure are particularly beneficial for parameter resetting. Although we demonstrate NSP resetting for some of the L2 learners, our data essentially demonstrate that even with the advent of time/exposure to native input, there is no immediate gainful effect for NSP resetting.