ERIC Number: EJ1040915
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Oct
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0267-6583
EISSN: N/A
Processing Relative Clauses in Chinese as a Second Language
Xu, Yi
Second Language Research, v30 n4 p439-461 Oct 2014
This project investigates second language (L2) learners' processing of four types of Chinese relative clauses crossing extraction types and demonstrative-classifier (DCl) positions. Using a word order judgment task with a whole-sentence reading technique, the study also discusses how psycholinguistic theories bear explanatory power in L2 data. An overall preference for DCl-first structures and an advantage of DCl-subject relative clauses over the other three structures were found. Results were largely compatible with the filler-gap domain theory and indicated a weak subject-gap advantage. These motivations are subject to influences from other factors, and a multi-constraint proposal was proposed.
Descriptors: Language Processing, Chinese, Second Language Learning, Learning Theories, Phrase Structure, Form Classes (Languages), Linguistic Theory, Psycholinguistics, Word Order, Task Analysis, Preferences, English, Native Speakers, Structural Analysis (Linguistics), Statistical Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A