Presuppositions and Scalar Implicatures in Second Language Acquisition

Autor/in	Feng, Shuo
Titel	Presuppositions and Scalar Implicatures in Second Language Acquisition
Quelle	(2019), (185 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Wisconsin - Madison
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-3922-6783-7
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Second Language Learning; Syntax; Semantics; Grammar; Psycholinguistics; Difficulty Level; Inferences; Pragmatics; Language Processing; Linguistic Theory; Mandarin Chinese; English (Second Language); Context Effect; Native Language; Pictorial Stimuli; Task Analysis + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Semantik; Grammatik; Psycholinguistik; Schwierigkeitsgrad; Inference; Inferenz; Pragmalinguistik; Sprachverarbeitung; Linguistische Theorie; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Fantasieanregung; Aufgabenanalyse
Abstract	Recently, there has been considerable L2 research on interfaces between different modules of grammar (internal), such as syntax-semantics, or between grammar and other cognitive systems (external), such as semantics-pragmatics. Sorace's (2011) Interface Hypothesis proposes that L2 learners, even at highly proficient levels, often fail to integrate information at the external interfaces where the grammar interacts with extralinguistic components. While much early L2 work has focused on the syntax-discourse interface, this dissertation tests language acquisition at another understudied external interface, namely the semantics-pragmatics interface, by taking the first step to experimentally explore presuppositions (PSP, e.g., "stop") and scalar implicatures (SI, e.g., "sometimes" and "not always"). Secondly, Slabakova (2010) indicates that the high rate of DSI computation by L2 speakers may be due to the difficulties and challenges L2 speakers face in suspending inferences. However, the issue of suspending pragmatic inferences by L2 speakers has not been tested empirically. Thus, by using a covered-box paradigm, this dissertation aims to examine not only the computation of pragmatic inferences, but more importantly the suspension or cancellation of pragmatic inferences by L2 speakers. The data obtained from a covered-box picture selection task completed by 41 L1-Mandarin Chinese L2-English speakers and 38 native English speakers indicate that L2 speakers had no difficulties in computing PSP, DSI and ISI, as well as in suspending DSI and ISI, challenging the claim from the Interface Hypothesis. However, the findings uncovered that suspending PSP was demanding for L2 speakers due to the semantic complexity involved in suspending PSP and L2 speakers' lack of sensitivity to contextual cues. The overall results suggested that regardless of the fact that PSP and the two types of SI are situated at the same external interface, they present different levels of challenges to L2 speakers. These findings demonstrated the complexity of L2 speakers' behavior at the semantics-pragmatics interface, different from the holistic view put forth by the Interface Hypothesis, and further offer new insights into a fine-grained understanding of the interpretation of pragmatic inferences in a second language. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Update	2024/1/01