L2 Syntax-Discourse Interface : Wh-Parameter and D-Linking

Abstract

In English, the Superiority Condition (Chomsky 1973) is overtly observed; in multiple wh-questions, the wh-phrase that is closest to SpecCP gets moved. But this condition is overridden by discourse-linking whichphrases (Pesetsky 1987) ; i.e., any one of the which-phrases can move to SpecCP. However, these phenomena are overt only in a wh-movement language such as English, but not in wh-in-situ languages such as Korean. For Koreans to learn the syntactic contrast in English, resetting the wh-parameter is crucial. By examining L2 acquisition of superiority and discourse-linking, this study tests the Interpretability Hypothesis and the Interface Hypothesis. 51 Korean ESL learners and 18 native English speakers participated. The results suggest the learners parameter resetting regardless of the uninterpretability of the target feature.