PhD Project: Interface and non-interface phenomena in heritage speakers and L2 learners of Spanish: differences and similarities  

It has been argued that, for all types of bilingual populations, phenomena located at interfaces between linguistic domains are more problematic than single domain (e.g. purely syntactic) phenomena. The Interface Hypothesis (Sorace, 2011) states that this distinction can be accounted for by the fact that bilinguals, who are constantly inhibiting one of their languages, have fewer attentional resources available. Therefore, interface phenomena, which require more processing costs, will provoke problems for these speakers. Some scholars (Tsimpli & Sorace, 2006) make a further distinction between internal and external interfaces. Internal interfaces are interfaces between two linguistic domains, like syntax and semantics, whereas external interfaces are interfaces with a higher level of language use, like discourse/pragmatics. The latter are claimed to be particularly problematic, causing the most persistent problems, even for highly proficient bilinguals.

Another theory that tries to account for differences in vulnerability between different linguistic phenomena, is the Vulnerability Theory, which claims that bilinguals’ deviant performances problems should not be attributed to the fact that these phenomena are located at linguistic interfaces, but rather to the variability in the input for these phenomena (de Prada Pérez, forthcoming).

In this project, which started in September 2013, I look at two different bilinguals groups, namely heritage speakers and second language learners of Spanish (of similar proficiency) who have Dutch as their dominant language. I test constructions that have purely syntactic constraints as well as semantic and discourse constraints, depending on the particular use of the constructions, like for instance Spanish mood in different contexts, and Spanish subject-verb word order. This way I try to distinguish between different types of knowledge that speakers may or may not possess about these phenomena in an effort to try to find independent evidence for either the Interface Hypothesis or the Vulnerability Hypothesis. I use comprehension as well as production tasks, to be able to determine whether, if problems occur, these can be claimed to be representational in nature or whether we are dealing with mere processing deficits.  

Supervisors

• prof. dr. A.C.J. (Aafke) Hulk

• mw. dr. A.P. (Petra) Sleeman

• mw. dr. S.P. (Suzanne) Aalberse

Research Interests

Heritage Language, Spanish, bilingualism, second language acquisition, linguistic interfaces, Interface Hypothesis

Feel free to take a look at my CV

• Curriculum Vitae

• Interface and non-interface phenomena in heritage speakers and L2 learners of Spanish: Differences and similarities – NAP-dag, University of Amsterdam, 01-11 2013.  

• Gender agreement in heritage Spanish: a matter of performance? (second author;  presentation by Pablo Irizarri van Suchtelen) - Tin-dag, Radboud University Leiden, 01-02-2014.  

• Gender agreement in interface contexts in the oral production of Spanish heritage speakers in the Netherlands (first author and presenter) – Tin-dag, Radboud University Leiden, 01-02-2014. (co-authors: Aafke Hulk, Petra Sleeman and Pablo Irizarri van Suchtelen)  

• Gender agreement in interface contexts in the oral production of Spanish heritage speakers in the Netherlands (first author and presenter) – National Heritage Language Research Centre Conference at UCLA, 07-03-2014. (co-authors: Aafke Hulk, Petra Sleeman and Pablo Irizarri van Suchtelen)  

• Gender agreement in interface contexts in the oral production of Spanish heritage speakers in the Netherlands (first author and presenter)  – Linguistic Symposium for Romance Languages (LSRL) at UWO, London, Canada, 05-04-2014. (co-authors Aafke Hulk, Petra Sleeman and Pablo Irizarri van Suchtelen)                                                                            

• Heritage speakers’ knowledge of Spanish mood: Interfaces or variability (first author and presenter) – Bilingualism in the Hispanic and Lusphone World (BHL) at Leiden University, 15-01-2015. (co-authors Aafke Hulk, Petra Sleeman and Suzanne Aalberse)

• No ancillary activities