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Processability Theory and German Case Acquisition
Author(s) -
Baten Kristof
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
language learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.882
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1467-9922
pISSN - 0023-8333
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9922.2010.00615.x
Subject(s) - german , flemish , morpheme , linguistics , nominative case , psychology , language acquisition , subject (documents) , theoretical linguistics , second language acquisition , computer science , verb , philosophy , library science
This article represents the first attempt to formulate a hypothetical sequence for German case acquisition by Dutch‐speaking learners on the basis of Processability Theory (PT). It will be argued that case forms emerge corresponding to a development from lexical over phrasal to interphrasal morphemes. This development, however, is subject to a correction factor due to the principle of direct mapping. In addition, the unmarked alignment hypothesis allows for a differentiation between similar case contexts (e.g., preverbal and postverbal nominative or accusative arguments). A cross‐sectional study was performed in order to examine whether the German case system is indeed acquired according to the hypotheses derived from PT. “Fill‐in‐the‐blanks‐exercises” were analyzed from 704 Flemish second‐language learners of German. The results of the study do indeed suggest a development in line with PT.