Cross-linguistic transfer in the L2 learning of spatial concepts

Previous research has demonstrated persistent difficulties in learning spatial expressions in a second language (L2) (Ahlberg et al., 2018; Ijaz, 1986; Jarvis & Odlin, 2000; Mukattash, 1984; Munnich & Landau, 2010; Park & Ziegler, 2014). Recent studies have suggested that these difficulties may come from the learners\u27 native language (L1) spatial conceptual systems, which remain persistent and influence conceptualization in second language acquisition (Ahlberg et al., 2018; Coventry & Garrod, 2004; Jarvis, 2016). Through a combination of triad picture matching and description tasks, the present study examined whether conceptual transfer is involved in L2 learning of Japanese spatial expressions among learners from two different L1s (Chinese and English) and two different proficiency levels (beginning and advanced). Results of the study showed that although there were clear linguistic differences in spatial descriptions among languages, specifically in the adpositions used, the stimuli failed to yield clear cross-linguistic differences in spatial conceptualization. Thus, no evidence of L1 transfer to the L2 at the cognitive level was found, at least in these data. However, findings from the study also suggested that target-like conceptualization may be related to learners’ accurate use of L2 spatial expressions regardless of their L1 or proficiency. Thus, if learners can identify linguistic concepts underlying L2 spatial expressions, they may be more likely to use the expressions correctly. Further investigations are necessary to examine how and to what extent learners’ spatial categorizations are affected by learning new concepts in an L2, which conceptualization patterns might not be affected, and how the conceptualization systems are structured in bilinguals’ minds

The layered internal structure and the external syntax of PP

This thesis examines the properties of spatial (i.e., locational and directional) Ps within the minimalist framework (Chomsky 1995,1998,1999), which has put an ultimate emphasis on economy in terms of derivation and representation. The principal goals of this thesis are (i) to investigate how the syntax of such nature derives PPs in accordance with the properties of Ps and (ii) to show how the internal PP structure interacts with the external syntax of PP. Chomsky's minimalist framework assumes two syntactic operations, i.e.. Merge and Move, and two different types of outcome of the operations, depending on the properties of lexical items involved in each operation executed. One outcome results from a merger of two items, of which one selects the other. The other results from a merger of two items, neither of which selects the other. I propose that there are three heads involved in deriving a layered PP structure: functional p, lexical P and locative N. This analysis is shown to be empirically supported from languages such as Dutch, English, Hungarian, Japanese and K'ekchi. I also claim that there are also intransitive Ps that adjoin to either or pP. The internal structure of PP interacts with its external syntax. One apparent area of grammar that shows desirable consequences for the layered PP analysis is P-to-V incorporation. For instance, the incorporability versus the unincorporability of Ps in Dutch can be accounted for by the principle (i.e.. Minimal Link Condition) that forbids skipping over an intermediate head, thus supporting the layered structure of PP. Another area offering support is locative inversion: the presence versus the absence of locative N head in PP can account for a contrast observed in locative inversion facts. Provided that an EPP-feature of T is category-specific, a contrast between PPs that can undergo movement to [Spec, T] and those that cannot stems from their respective internal structures

Does Hungarian have a case system?

I argue that case markers in Hungarian are best thought of as ‘fused postpositions’. There is no need to set up a separate syntactic or morphological [Case] attribute as such. Rather, we just need a morphological principle stating that nominals (including pronouns) have a special form, the traditional case form. In this respect Hungarian is crucially different from languages such as Latin (which requires both a morphological and a syntactic [Case] feature) or Finnish (which requires at least a syntactic [Case] feature). I discuss certain typological issues arising from this analysis, arguing that when grammarians refer to Hungarian ‘cases’, they are really referring to a rather more general notion of ‘canonical grammatical function markers on dependents’

On the methodology for constructing a semantic network of English prepositions : a case study of the preposition for

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new methodology for constructing semantic networks of English prepositions, a network reasonably regarded as psychologically real. As a case study, we will specifically dis-cuss the preposition for. Another aim of this paper is to apply our semantic networks to a pedagogical purpose of helping Japanese English learners to learn the semantics of English prepositions more effectively

The linguistic construction of space in Ewe

This paper presents the linguistic means of describing spatial relations in Ewe with particular emphasis on the grammar and meaning of adpositions. Ewe ( N iger-Congo ) has two sets of adpositions: prepositions, which have evolvedfrom verbs, and postpositions which have evolvedfrom nouns. The postpositions create places and are treated äs intrinsic parts or regions of the reference object in a spatial description. The prepositions provide the general orientation of a Figure (located object). It is demonstrated (hat spaiial relations, such äs those encapsulated in "the basic topological prepositions at, in and on" in English (Herskovits 1986: 9), are not encoded in single linguistic elements in Ewe, but are distributed over members of dijferent form classes in a syntagmatic string, The paper explores the r öle of compositionality andits interaction with pragmatics to yield understandings of spatial configurations in such a language where spatial meanings cannot he simply read off one form. The study also examines the diversity among languages in terms of the nature and obligatoriness of the coding of relational and ground Information in spatial constructions. It is argued that the ränge and type of distinctions discussed in the paper must be accountedfor in semantic typology and in the cross-linguistic investigation of spatial language and conceptualisation

Topological Spatial Relations, Containment and Support: A Contrastive Study of Mandarin and English.

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2017

Telicity and Path Structure in Japanese

河上誓作教授退官記念論文集刊行会『言葉のからくり : 河上誓作教授退官記念論文集』英宝社、2004年3月、867