Effects of Lexical Aspect on the Interlanguage of Ibibio ESL Learners: Later than Sooner

Willie U. Willie

doi:10.21049/ccs.2016.43..459

The main objective of this paper is to test the major prediction of the Aspect Hypothesis on interlanguage narratives collected from 171 Ibibio ESL learners in a classroom setting using sets of picture stories. Aspect Hypothesis predicts that lexical aspectual classes of verbs would determine the pattern of acquisition and distribution of tense-aspect morphology at the very early stages of L2 acquisition of tense-aspect verbal morphology. That is, telic verbs would be marked with the past tense-aspect verbal morphology before atelic verbs in the interlanguage of ESL learners irrespective of their L1 background. The results of our data analyses show a significant effect from the lexical aspect on the acquisition and distribution of tense-aspect morphology with chi-square statistics of (x2=196.92,df = 6, n = 1664, p = <.0001). However, the effect of the lexical aspect is shown to be more prominent among Ibibio ESL learners at higher levels of proficiency. This is contrary to the prediction regarding Aspect Hypothesis. The paper concludes that the influence of the lexical aspect on the pattern of acquisition and distribution of tense-aspect morphology may be universal but the actual point along the developmental pathway when such influence is obtainable is yet to be determined. This calls for more research into the pattern of the L2 acquisition of tense-aspect verbal morphology.

Citation status

KCI Citation Counts (0)
REFERENCES (28)
열림/닫힘 버튼
* 2021년 이후 발행 논문의 참고문헌은 현재 구축 중입니다.

[thesis] Andersen, R. / 1986 / Interpreting Data: Second Language Acquisition of Verbal Aspect / 석사 / University of California

[book] Andersen, R. / 1991 / Second Language Acquisition and Linguistics Theories : 305~524

[book] Andersen, R. / 1994 / The Insider’s Advantage / Lingua Seconda/Lingua Straniera : 1~26

[journal] Ayoun, D. / 2008 / Acquisition of English Tense-aspect Morphology by Advanced French Instructed Learners / Language Learning 53 : 555~595

[book] Bardovi-Harlig, K. / 2000 / Tense and Aspect in Second Language Acquisition:Form, meaning, and Use / Blackwell Publishers Ltd

[book] Comrie, B. / 1976 / Aspect / Cambridge University Press

[book] Comrie, B. / 1986 / Tense / Cambridge University Press

[journal] Connell, B. / 1994 / The Lower Cross Languages: a Pro-legomena to the Classification of the Cross River Languages / JWAL 420 : 13~46

[journal] Collins, L. / 2002 / The Roles of L1 Influence and Lexical Aspect in Acquisition of Temporal Morphology / Language Learning 52 : 43~94

[book] Dowty, D. / 1979 / Word Meaning and Montague Grammar / Kluwer Academic Publishers

[journal] Dowty, D. / 1986 / The Effects of Aspectual Class on the Temporal Structure of Discourse: Semantics or Pragmatics? / Linguistics and Philosophy 9 : 37~61

[book] Essien, O. / 1983 / Current Approaches to African Linguistics, 2 / Foris Publications

[journal] Eyoh, L. / 2008 / Nigerian Oral Poetry as a Source of Democratic Principles:A Study of Selected Ibibio Proverbs / Faculty of Arts Journal 5 : 138~151

[book] Eyoh, L. / 2013 / Ibom Cultural Offerings:Arts Crafts and Performances / University of Cape Coast Press : 43~53

[book] Housen, A. / 2002 / The L2 Acquisition of Tense-aspect Morphology / Benjamins : 155~197

[journal] Lee, E-J. / 2001 / Interlanguage Development by Two Korean Speakers of English with a Focus on Temporality / Language Learning 51 : 591~633

[book] Mourelatos, A. / 1981 / Syntax and Semantics: Tense and Aspect / Academic Press : 191~212

[book] Rohde, A. / 2002 / The L2 Acquisition of Tense-aspect Morphology / Benjamins : 199~220

[journal] Robison, R. / 1995 / The Aspect Hypothesis Revisited: A Cross-sectional Study of Tense and Aspect Marking in Interlanguage / Applied Linguistics 16 : 344~370

[journal] Salaberry, R. / 2000 / The Acquisition of English Past Tense in an Instructional Setting / System 28 : 135~152

[journal] Smith, C. / 1983 / A Theory of AspectuaCchoice / Language 59 : 479~501

[journal] Smith, C. / 1997 / The Parameter of Aspect / Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy / Kluwer Publishers 43

[thesis] Upor, R. / 2009 / Acquisition of Tense-aspect Morphology Among Tanzanian EFL Learners / 박사 / University of Georgia

[journal] Urua, E. / 1996 / Languages or Dialects? Language Situation in Akwa Ibom State / University of Uyo Journal of Humanities 4 : 50~65

[book] Vendler, Z. / 1967 / Linguistics and Philosophy / Cornell University Press : 97~121

[journal] Willie, W. / 2011 / Question Formation Rules in Ibibio / University of Uyo Journal of Humanities 16 & 17 : 29~45

[book] Willie, W. / 2012 / Second Language Acquisition of Tense and Aspect / Lambert Academic Publishing

[journal] Willie, W. / 2014 / The Linguistics Landscape in a Globalized Africa / University of Uyo Journal of Humanities 18 : 47~62

KJC Korea
Journal Central

Statistics

Tools

Sharing

Issue List

Citation status