Strategies for the interpretation and formation of Mandarin Chinese compounds, designed for the English-speaking learner of Mandarin, as well as the linguist, make a distinction between two compound types: lexical and phrasal. While both types consist of sequences of verbs and nouns, lexical compounds are indivisible words formed in the lexicon,…

The interactions among demonstrative adjectives in certain genitive phrases and WH-words in Japanese are investigated in this report on a work in progress. It is argued that certain demonstrative adjectives in Japanese, such as "ano" ("that"), occupy the highest Spec position in DP and that they block A-bar movement out of DP; genitive phrases,…

This paper addresses the issue of whether second language (L2) learners can reset parameters, by testing English speakers learning Spanish on their ability to reset the subjacency and bounding node parameters. The bounding nodes are IP and NP in English and CP and NP in Spanish. Eight American graduate students, highly proficient in the Spanish…

Tests the understanding of French pronominal-verbal constructions on native and English speakers of French and assesses their sensitivity to the possible multiple readings such as: reflexive, reciprocal, intrinsic, and passive. The article attributes the superior performance of English speakers to the corresponding morphosyntactic and lexical…

Morphological and syntactical considerations of problems of interference which arise between the mother tongue and the target language are developed in this paper written in English and in French. Linguistically oriented, the article focuses on the identification of different linguistic elements which compose a syntagmatic form. A detailed…

This collection of papers by the graduate students and faculty in linguistics at the University of Kansas offers summaries of works in progress dealing with general linguistics and studies in Native American languages. General linguistics papers include: "Resetting Bounding Nodes in Acquiring Spanish" (Ramiro Cebreiros); "Syntax of…

Contrastive analysis is viewed as an interlinguistic, bidirectional phenomenon which is concerned with both the form and function of language. As such, contrastive analysis must view language psycholinguistically and sociolinguistically as a system to be both described and acquired. Due to the need for a psychological component in the analysis,…

Examines the variable realization of the third person singular present tense by learners of English as a Second Language at elementary and intermediate levels of proficiency in unplanned discourse in South Africa. (35 references) (Author/CK)

This supplementary offering for English-as-a-second-language courses was prepared to help isolate and treat most of the "goofs" that students regularly make in speaking and writing English. Each error is presented in its grammatical context, and chapters are arranged on the basis of groups of errors that fall together structurally. Included are…

The immediate objective of this course in technical English was to enable French-speaking mechanics and technicians to read the instructions for the installation, operation and upkeep of American-made machinery. Although the learners knew very little English, available British and American technical documents were used because of their…