Cross-linguistic Influence at Syntax-pragmatics Interface: A Case of OPC in Persian

Recent research in the area of Second Language Acquisition has proposed that bilinguals and L۲ learners show syntactic indeterminacy when syntactic properties interface with other cognitive domains. Most of the research in this area has focused on the pragmatic use of syntactic properties while the investigation of compliance with a grammatical rule at syntax-related interfaces has not received due attention. In this study, the compliance of ۶۷ Persian native speakers and ۵۲ Persian speaking L۲ learners of English with the Overt Pronoun Constraint (OPC, henceforth) a proposed UG principle, at the syntax-pragmatics interface is investigated. Both groups of participants demonstrated violations of the OPC at the syntax-pragmatics interface. It is argued that the results of this study both confirm and complement Sorace and Filiaci’s (۲۰۰۶) Interface Hypothesis while showing that difficulties at interface contexts are more a result of interface complexities than cross-linguistic influence.

کلیدواژه ها:

Overt Pronoun Constraint ، Syntax Pragmatics Interface ، Second Language Acquisition ، Cross Linguistic Influence