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Part of
L3 Syntactic Transfer: Models, new developments and implications
Edited by Tanja Angelovska and Angela Hahn
[Bilingual Processing and Acquisition 5] 2017
► pp. 143–171

Chapter 7
Transfer effects in the acquisition of double object constructions in English as an L3

The present study examines the role of transfer in the processing of double object constructions (DOC) in English as a third language (L3). A group of Basque/Spanish bilinguals and a group of Spanish speakers divided into three proficiency levels completed a self-paced reading task. Findings did not fully confirm the predictions of the L3 transfer models. Evidence from accuracy and reaction time data indicated a non-facilitative role of transfer since participants did not reach native-like accuracy rates across proficiency levels. Moreover, transfer does not seem to occur solely from Spanish, as predicted by the Typological Primacy Model. Proficiency level seems to be relevant when determining transfer in dative alternation.

Keywords: double object constructions, dative alternation, L3, transfer
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Double object constructions in English, Spanish and Basque
  • Previous research on the acquisition of double object constructions
  • Transfer effects in L3 acquisition
  • The study
    • Participants
    • Test materials
    • Data collection procedure
  • Results
    • Accuracy results
    • RT results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 15 August 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/bpa.5.08agi
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