Non-finite complementation in French L2: a learner corpus approach

Abstract

The Complementizer Phrase (CP) is mainly unexplored territory in L2 French acquisition studies (Herschensohn 2007:128). This study aims at partially filling this gap by exploring the structure of non-finite complementation using data from a longitudinal oral learner corpus of 10 Jamaican learners of French (Peters 2005, 2006). It specifically explores the realization of the Complementizer (COMP) functional category, and analyses the structure of the nonfinite embedded clauses with control and raising structures and embedded interrogative. The influence of the native languages and of the French input on non-target uses will be evaluated. The present study, therefore, answers White’s (2003:36) call “to probe quite intricate properties of the interlanguage representation, in order to understand the nature of the grammar that the learner creates to account for the L2.” Furthermore, this presentation explores a methodological interface (Rankin 2009) between the framework of the Principle and Parameter framework, and the Minimalist Program (Chomsky 1995, 1999) as applied to SLA research (Lardière 1998, 2000, 2009a, b) and the methods of learner corpus linguistics (Granger et al. 2000). The corpus approach, although unlikely to answer all relevant question of structure when crucial data is missing in naturally occurring data, will prove useful in clarifying the issues and delineate further areas of investigation.