National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages
Abstract
This study investigates the acquisition of verb derivation patterns by 15 Moroccan Arabic heritage speakers in France. The patterns studied were the basic, causative, medio-passive, and reciprocal. The data were gathered through a production experiment. The main finding was that a semantic distinction realized by pattern alternation was neutralized in the heritage language. The basic pattern and periphrastic constructions were used predominantly in medio-passive and reciprocal target data. The basic pattern was acquired by all participants, while only 40% acquired the causative, although the phonological form of the causative pattern was modified in the heritage language. The medio-passive and reciprocal patterns were not acquired. There were significant differences between the four patterns. Less marked and more common morphological structures characterized the heritage language. Neutralization in verb patterns showed that participants spoke a variety of Arabic in which certain morphosyntactic forms were reanalyzed
