The effects of native and second language on syntactic acquisition in third language: A study of relative clauses and Wh-questions in English

This study analyzes the impact of first (L1) and second language (L2) on the acquisition of the syntax of English as a third language (L3) focusing on relative clauses and wh-questions among foreign-born youth living in Korea. While numerous models explore the influence of a first and second language on third language acquisition, this research implements the Cumulative Enhancement Model and the L2 Status Factor Model to determine their respective impacts on L3 acquisition (Flynn, Foley, & Vinitskaya, 2004; Bardel & Falk, 2007; Williams & Hammarberg, 1998; Rothman & Amaro, 2010). The Cumulative Enhancement Model hypothesizes that prior grammatical knowledge either neutrally or positively influences subsequent language acquisition as opposed to the L2 Status Factor Model which hypothesizes that it is specifically the L2 that has a positive or negative transfer effect on L3 acquisition. These findings demonstrate that an L1 wh-parameter resembling L3 plays a facilitating role in acquiring wh-questions in English. In conclusion, the results of the relative clauses and the wh-questions tests are consistent with the proposed hypothesis of the Cumulative Enhancement Model.