Date of Award
2007
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program
Linguistics
Abstract
Current investigations on bilingualism have shown a tendency for bilingual grammars to display a divergence from monolingual target grammars at the syntaxdiscourse interface. Generally, the grammars studied have been those of first or second generation bilinguals. In order to argue that this divergence is an inevitable characteristic of bilingual grammars, further exploration of various types of bilinguals is necessary. The present investigation examines the discourse operator, focus, in neutral and presentational contexts. Neutral focus is determined by syntax whereas presentational focus is determined by the activation of FocP by the syntax-discourse interface. Results show that the following hypotheses were supported with minor modifications. The syntax-discourse interface of these bilinguals displays a divergence from monolinguals. We found a convergence with syntax. Finally, only in the production of focus constructions do bilinguals show that the weak discourse constraint of transitives is even more vulnerable than the strong constraint of unaccusative verbs.
Recommended Citation
McIlwraith, K. Elaine, "BILINGUALISM IN GIBRALTAR: FOCUS CONSTRUCTIONS OF BILINGUAL SPANISH-ENGLISH GRAMMARS AND THE SYNTAX-DISCOURSE INTERFACE" (2007). Digitized Theses. 4919.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4919