Null Subject Behavior in the Attrition of Brazilian Portuguese

The syntax of referential null subjects in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) is the topic of much recent work (Kato & Negrão 2000; Ferreira 2000, 2004; Martins & Nunes 2005, 2010; Modesto 2000; Rodrigues 2002, 2004). In light of the Interface Hypothesis (Tsimpli, Sorace 2006), uninterpretable features such as purely syntactical elements should not undergo attrition. This study tests whether this theory is valid in regard to the Null Subject behavior in the production of BP speakers under influence of L2 English. In order to do so, I conducted an experiment with monolingual BP speakers and bilingual (English/BP) speakers to establish a clear-cut comparison. The experiment consisted of an elicited production task and a grammaticality judgment task. The results of the data analysis show that BP speakers under influence of L2 English do seem to indicate attrition, thus encouraging further studies questioning the Interface Hypothesis

Comparing anaphora resolution in early and late Brazilian Portuguese-European Portuguese bidialectal bilinguals

The present study examines anaphora resolution in two groups of speakers exposed to Brazilian and European Portuguese (BP and EP, respectively), considering the different null subject distribution in these languages. Our research question is whether late BP-EP bilinguals (age of EP onset: 29.1) and heritage BP speakers raised in Portugal (age of EP onset 5.6), tested in both dialects, will pattern like the native controls or display some effects of EP in their native BP or vice-versa. This is an interesting question in light of the Interface Hypothesis, which claims that external interfaces should be subject to general bilingualism effects irrespective of language pairing and age (Sorace, 2011). The results show that age has an effect, as the heritage speakers do not perform like the late learners, and that the high degree of typological proximity between the two languages rules out the possibility of late bidialectal acquisition

Phonological influence in bilectal speakers of Brazilian and European Portuguese

Aims and objectives: This article investigates naturalistic acquisition of a second dialect (D2), comparing the global accent of speakers of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) exposed to European Portuguese (EP), either as children or as adults (early vs late bilectals). The focus is on the predicted advantage of an early age of onset of the D2, as well as possible crosslinguistic influence from the D2 onto the first dialect (D1). Design and methodology: The study is an Accent Rating Task, where 50 raters judged the global accent of 30 BP speakers living in Portugal (15 early + 15 late bilectals), who were recorded in both BP and EP modes. Using a 6-point Likert-type scale, the raters judged whether the speakers sounded Brazilian or Portuguese and also indicated how certain they were about their judgment. Data and analysis: The data consisted of two 10-second audio snippets from each speaker, one in BP and the other in EP mode (altogether 60 items). In addition, there were 10 control items produced by native BP and EP speakers. Several mixed-effects models compared the target groups to each other and to the monolectal controls. Findings and conclusions: Both the early and late bilectals were rated as Brazilian in BP mode, but the degree of rater certainty was significantly lower for early than for late bilectals, which was again lower than for BP monolectals. In EP mode, early bilectals were perceived as Portuguese (though the raters were less certain than when rating EP monolectals), while late bilectals were judged as Brazilian

Heritage and adult L2 acquisition of empty categories in a bidialectal-bilingual context

Despite their high degree of mutual intelligibility, Brazilian Portuguese (henceforth BP) and European Portuguese (henceforth EP) have been argued to differ in many micro-parametric domains, which suggests that speakers with enough exposure to both varieties could potentially acquire them as separate mental systems. The present study makes use of this language pairing to investigate issues raised in current literature on heritage language (HL) and second language (L2) acquisition (e.g., Montrul & Polinsky, 2011, Sorace, 2011), L2 processing (Hopp, 2016; Hartsuiker & Pickering, 2008) and first language (L1) attrition (Altenberg, 1991; Schmid, 2011). We apply a comprehension task in order to test anaphora resolution in two groups of speakers exposed to BP and EP, taking into account the different null subject distribution in these languages. We investigate whether late BP-EP bilinguals and heritage BP speakers growing up in Portugal, tested in both dialects, will pattern like native controls or display some effects of EP on their native BP or vice-versa. Through an open-ended production task, we also attempt to measure these speakers’ distribution of both null subjects and objects and compare that to the pattern shown by monolingual controls. In a second comprehension task, we test the extent to which BP immigrants arriving in adulthood display cross-linguistic effects such that either or both EP and BP differ(s) from monolinguals. Our findings indicate that, for this language pairing, the directionality of cross-linguistic influence is more dependent on which properties are being acquired, and the high degree of typological proximity between the L1 and the L2 appears to facilitate L1 attrition and delimit the acquisition of L2 properties. We relate the findings of the present study to key theoretical questions and debates within the context of the larger field of bilingual studies

On the directionality of cross-linguistic effects in bidialectal bilingualism

This study explores the interpretation of null and overt object pronouns by Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) bidialectal bilinguals. Object pronouns are a particularly good domain to examine, given that, particularly with respect to null objects, the underlying syntax as well as the semantic and discourse constraints that regulate their distributions in the two varieties are superficially different but inherently similar. We test the extent to which native BP speakers who moved to Portugal in adulthood and have lived there for a considerable time display cross-linguistic influence in either direction. Each subject is tested twice, once in BP mode and once in EP mode, which allows us not only to test if they have acquired the EP target structure but also to test the extent to which acquisition of EP might have consequences for the same domain in BP. Our results show that the high degree of typological proximity between the L1 and the L2 may contribute to L1 attrition and hinder target-like performance (i.e., processing) of L2 properties. We relate the findings to key theoretical questions and debates within the context of the larger field of bilingual studies, particularly with respect to L1 attrition and L2 acquisition

Broad scope and narrow focus: on the contemporary linguistic and psycholinguistic study of third language acquisition

Aims: in this introduction we situate the seven articles in this special issue in terms of the connections between their themes and their individual contributions to the field of third language acquisition (L3A): new theoretical models, innovative methodologies, an epistemological commentary and new perspectives related to multilingual processing and cognitive function. Approach: we discuss important and often overlooked differences between bi- and multilingualism in the context of second language versus third or further language acquisition. We also provide a brief historical overview of the relatively young field of L3A and outline the three current models of linguistic transfer in L3 morphosyntax. Finally, we approach the issues of methodology, psychological complexity and cognitive implications that are discussed in some of these papers. Conclusions: the diversity of topics in these articles endows the issue with a broad approach to the field of L3A, while individual articles offer a narrow focus on specific theoretical and methodological issues. Significance: this special issue provides an accurate portrayal of the current interest in, and rapid expansion of, multilingualism within linguistic and psycholinguistic approaches