in Second Language Research. 15.2

José Camacho

Abstract

This paper analyzes the grammatical outcome of the conflict speakers of a between a head-final L1 (Southern Quechua) face when learning a head-initial target (Standard Spanish) in a naturalistic setting. It proposes that interlanguage sentential word orders reflect a transfer of two independent parameters from the L1: the possibility of having null objects with definite/specific antecedents and a feature triggering object movement for sentential focus. The second parameter can be successfully reset through contradictory evidence, the first one, however, cannot, since target evidence is compatible with the L1 setting. This data can better be accounted for in Schwartz and Sprouse=s Full Access/Full Transfer Model (cf. Schwartz and Sprouse 1994, 1996, among other references) than in other alternatives (cf. Vainikka and Young-Scholten=s (1994, 1996) Minimal Trees hypothesis and Eubank=s (1994, 1996) Valueless Features hypothesis).