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The acquisition of tense in English: Distinguishing child second language from first language and specific language impairment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2008

JOHANNE PARADIS ,
MABEL L. RICE ,
MARTHA CRAGO  and
JANET MARQUIS
JOHANNE PARADIS*
Affiliation:
University of Alberta
MABEL L. RICE
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
MARTHA CRAGO
Affiliation:
Dalhousie University
JANET MARQUIS
Affiliation:
University of Kansas
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Johanne Paradis, Department of Linguistics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E7, Canada. E-mail: johanne.paradis@ualberta.ca
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Abstract

This study reports on a comparison of the use and knowledge of tense-marking morphemes in English by first language (L1), second language (L2), and specific language impairment (SLI) children. The objective of our research was to ascertain whether the L2 children's tense acquisition patterns were similar or dissimilar to those of the L1 and SLI groups, and whether they would fit an (extended) optional infinitive profile, or an L2-based profile, for example, the missing surface inflection hypothesis. Results showed that the L2 children had a unique profile compared with their monolingual peers, which was better characterized by the missing surface inflection hypothesis. At the same time, results reinforce the assumption underlying the (extended) optional infinitive profile that internal constraints on the acquisition of tense could be a component of L1 development, with and without SLI.

Type
Articles
Information
Applied Psycholinguistics , Volume 29 , Issue 4 , October 2008 , pp. 689 - 722
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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