ABSTRACT

This study proposes an explanatory account for the developmental stages of the acquisition of ser and estar in locative constructions. We propose that this copular distribution is regulated by two aspectual features, dynamicity and temporal boundedness. These features are crucial for the interpretation of nominals such as dinner, which refers to the physical food [–dynamic] with estar and to the event of having a meal [+dynamic] with ser. In a Picture Matching Task and an Elicited Production Task, English-speaking learners of Spanish had to comprehend, locate, and distinguish objects from events by employing the two Spanish copulas. We questioned whether L2 learners would be sensitive to the aspectual nature of subjects and copulas in locative constructions. We found that participants had difficulties interpreting the feature [+dynamic] in nominal subjects and propose that this is the last feature acquired, offering a revised developmental path of the acquisition of ser/estar.

摘要

这项研究为定位结构中ser和estar的获取发展阶段提出了解释性说明。我们提出这种交分布受两个方面的特征调节，即动态性和时间有界性。这些功能对于晚餐等名词的解释至关重要，后者指的是estar的物理食物[–dynamic]以及ser的进餐[+ dynamic]。在“图片匹配任务”和“精挑细选的制作任务”中，讲西班牙语的英语学习者必须通过使用两个西班牙语copulas来理解，定位和区分事件中的对象。我们质疑二语学习者是否会对位置结构中的主题和系词的方面性质敏感。我们发现参与者很难解释名义对象中的[+ dynamic]特征，并建议这是最后获得的特征，为获得ser / estar提供了修订的发展路径。