Direct Object Marking in Modern Hebrew and Romanian: Implications for Beginner Language Learners

This study explores the acquisition and processing of Differential Object Marking (DOM) in Modern Hebrew by L1 Romanian, L2 Hebrew learners at the A1 and A2 proficiency levels. Modern Hebrew marks the direct object with the preposition et and features a unidimensional DOM system that is primarily sensitive to definiteness. In contrast, Romanian marks the direct object using the preposition pe (accompanied by a clitic doubling) and employs a two-dimensional system influenced by both animacy and specificity. The paper examines, at a small scale through our own research, how beginner learners interpret and apply DOM rules in Modern Hebrew, as they are required to shift from a two-dimensional DOM system in Romanian to a unidimensional one in Modern Hebrew. Findings reveal clear evidence of language transfer, particularly among A1 learners, whose responses often mirror patterns from their first language. However, as learners progress to A2 level and gain greater exposure to the target language, the frequency of errors decreases, indicating a gradual internalization of the relevant structures in Modern Hebrew.