18.1142, Diss: Lang Acquisition: Miller: 'Variable Input and the Acquisition...'

LINGUIST Network linguist at LINGUISTLIST.ORG
Sun Apr 15 18:26:36 UTC 2007


LINGUIST List: Vol-18-1142. Sun Apr 15 2007. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 18.1142, Diss: Lang Acquisition: Miller: 'Variable Input and the Acquisition...'

Moderators: Anthony Aristar, Eastern Michigan U <aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Aristar-Dry, Eastern Michigan U <hdry at linguistlist.org>
 
Reviews: Laura Welcher, Rosetta Project  
       <reviews at linguistlist.org> 

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org/

The LINGUIST List is funded by Eastern Michigan University, 
and donations from subscribers and publishers.

Editor for this issue: Hunter Lockwood <hunter at linguistlist.org>
================================================================  

To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at
http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.html.

===========================Directory==============================  

1)
Date: 13-Apr-2007
From: Karen Miller < klm26 at calvin.edu >
Subject: Variable Input and the Acquisition of Plurality in Two Varieties of Spanish

Final Standing: Top 5 Schools in LL Grad School Challenge:
1. Stanford University   	                $3270
2. University of Massachusetts at Amherst 	$2207
3. University of Arizona 	                $1855
4. University of Washington   	                $1524
5. Indian University                            $1050
To see the full list, go to: http://linguistlist.org/donation/fund-drive2007/allschools.cfm

******************************************************************************* 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:24:49
From: Karen Miller < klm26 at calvin.edu >
Subject: Variable Input and the Acquisition of Plurality in Two Varieties of Spanish 
 

Institution: Michigan State University 
Program: Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian and African
Languages 
Dissertation Status: Completed 
Degree Date: 2007 

Author: Karen Lynn Miller

Dissertation Title: Variable Input and the Acquisition of Plurality in Two
Varieties of Spanish 

Dissertation URL:  http://www.calvin.edu/~klm26/

Linguistic Field(s): Language Acquisition

Subject Language(s): Spanish (spa)


Dissertation Director(s):
Cristina Schmitt

Dissertation Abstract:

This dissertation presents a series of production and comprehension
experiments designed to test how variable and ambiguous input affects the
acquisition of grammatical morphology in children. Acquisition of plural
morphology was examined in two varieties of Spanish, one where the plural
morpheme is sometimes omitted in adult speech (due to syllable-final /s/
lenition - Chilean Spanish) and the other where the plural morpheme is
consistently produced by adult speakers (Mexico City Spanish). The results
show that clear differences exist in the way that children acquire
grammatical morphology that is consistently produced in the input vs.
grammatical morphology that is variable and ambiguous in the input. That
is, in production, children exposed to consistent input produce the plural
morpheme consistently in their own speech, while children exposed to
variable input are variable in their own production. In comprehension, the
results show that children exposed to consistent input associate the plural
morpheme to an interpretation of 'more than one' by at least 4 years of
age, while children exposed to variable and ambiguous input are delayed in
their comprehension of plural morphology. Specifically, these children do
not assign an interpretation of 'more than one' to the plural morpheme
until approximately 7 years of age. The results of this dissertation
strongly suggest that variable and ambiguous input delays the acquisition
of grammatical morphology that is affected by that variability.





-----------------------------------------------------------

This Year the LINGUIST List hopes to raise $55,000. This money will go to help keep the 
List running by supporting all of our Student Editors for the coming year.

See below for donation instructions, and don't forget to check out our Fund Drive 2007 
LINGUIST List Superhero Adventure for some Fund Drive fun!

http://linguistlist.org/donation/fund-drive2007/ 

There are many ways to donate to LINGUIST!

You can donate right now using our secure credit card form.

Alternatively you can also pledge right now and pay later.

For all information on donating and pledging, including information on how to donate by 
check, money order, or wire transfer, please visit:

http://linguistlist.org/donate.html

The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as such can 
receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered 501(c) Non Profit 
organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These donations can be offset against 
your federal and sometimes your state tax return (U.S. tax payers only). For more 
information visit the IRS Web-Site, or contact your financial advisor.

Many companies also offer a gift matching program, such that they will match any gift 
you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your contacting your human 
resources department and sending us a form that the EMU Foundation fills in and returns 
to your employer. This is generally a simple administrative procedure that doubles the 
value of your gift to LINGUIST, without costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment 
to check if your company operates such a program.

Thank you very much for your support of LINGUIST!


 

-----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-18-1142	

	



More information about the LINGUIST mailing list