Language Universals and Transfer in Interlanguage Relative Clauses

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Published: Jan 1, 2009
Keywords:
relative clauses second language acquisition language universals language transfer

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Supakorn Phoocharoensil
Nirada Simargool

Abstract

The present study aims at investigating English relative clause (ERC) acquisition by Thai EFL learners, with particular emphasis on major relevant linguistic universals as well as the role of the learners’ native language. The findings indicate that the learners’ order of ERC acquisition conforms to the Noun Phrase Accessibility Hierarchy (NPAH), which is a well-known universal, in that the subject relative is the most basic and common type of ERC. In addition, use of resumptive pronouns is noticeable although they are not existent in the learners’ L1. Furthermore, the prediction of another universal, the Perceptual Difficulty Hypothesis (PDH), proves true when the learners are found to produce far more right-embedded ERCs than center-embedded ones. Apart from the language universals, influence from Thai also has some impact on the ERC learning. Affinities between Thai and English RCs promote the learners’ acquisition of ERCs, whereas differences in the RC systems of both languages result in difficulties.

Article Details

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No. 1 (2009): Thoughts 2009
Section
Articles

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Author Biographies

Supakorn Phoocharoensil

Supakorn Phoocharoensil obtained his B.A. in English (Hon.) from the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University in 2000. He also graduated from the same institute with his M.A. in English in 2003. Since then, he has been teaching English for Language Institute, Thammasat University. He is now studying for his Ph. D. in English as an International Language (EIL) Interdisciplinary Program, Chulalongkorn University. His areas of interest concern second language acquisition of English syntax, English phonology, and English lexicology.

Nirada Simargool

Assistant Professor Dr. Nirada Simargool is currently teaching English at Chulalongkorn University Language Institute (CULI).  She holds her B.A. in English from the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn Univeristy and M.A. in ESL from Western Michigan University. She also received a Thai Government Scholarship to further her study at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, where she graduated with MA and Ph.D. in English Language and Linguistics. Her research interests include English syntax, historical linguistics, and World Englishes.

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