The Acquisition of Unaccusativity: the Effect of Dialect Exposure on Early and Late English-Italian Bilinguals

本项目旨在通过研究同时使用早期和连续的意大利方言--意大利双语者的语言产出，为当前对非宾格习得(也称为分裂不及物)的理解做出贡献。通过探讨不同的和部分相互冲突的语法输入所起的作用，我的目的是确定掌握非宾格的语言能力水平，并最终确定这是否以及如何获得这一能力。在这一理论背景下，我的博士论文提出了以下问题：1.发散语法的同时/连续习得是否影响非宾格句法的习得过程？2.早期和晚期双语者的句法语义能力有多大差异？3.在非标准双语习得中，有没有哪类动词的句法比其他动词掌握得更快？4.对于非标准双语习得，分裂不及物习得的研究提供了什么启示？

This project sets out to contribute to the current understanding of the acquisition of unaccusativity - also referred to as split intransitivity - by investigating the linguistic production of simultaneous early and consecutive late dialect-Italian bilinguals. By exploring the role played by the input of different and in part conflicting grammars, I aim to ascertain the level of linguistic competence required to master unaccusativity and, ultimately, determine whether and how this is acquired. The novel approach of my study may well offer valuable insights into the intransitivity split itself.Research Questions Against this theoretical backdrop, my PhD project addresses the following questions:1. Does the simultaneous/consecutive attainment of divergent grammars affect the process of acquisition of unaccusative syntax? 2. To what degree does syntactico-semantic competence differ between early and late bilinguals? 3. Are there any classes of verbs whose syntax is mastered sooner than that of others in nonstandard bilingual acquisition?4. What insights does the study of the acquisition of split intransitivity offer with respect to the ASH?