Acquisition of Zero Relative Clauses in English by Adult Turkish Learners of English

Abstract

Studies on acquisition of relative clauses by first and second language learners have evoked considerable interest in recent decades. In line with such studies, in this present study we aim to show the possible effect of first language (Turkish) on second language (English) in zero relative clause constructions. English uses certain stranded prepositions in zero relative clauses, whereas Turkish uses the same suffix in non-subject relative clause constructions. This observation in two typologically different languages led the study to claim that Turkish word order in non-subject relative clauses affects the acquisition of zero relative clauses in English. Fifty sentences in Turkish were prepared and composed of five categories. Each category consisted of ten sentences. Each category referred to one of the five cases in Turkish. These cases were accusative, locative, ablative, dative and instrumental. The participants (N=91) were asked to translate these Turkish sentences into English. The results showed that the participants tended to omit prepositions in English zero relative clauses except the construction that did not entail any preposition. Therefore, the study implies that Turkish language learners may be under the effect of their mother tongue while producing zero relative clauses in English.

Acquisition of Object Relative Clauses by Turkish Adult Learners of English

“…Housen and Simoens (2016) note that acquisition of relative clause constructions might result from the asymmetry and complexity of these constructions. Ordem (2017) also found that adult Turkish learners of English had difficulty producing certain prepositions in zero relative clause constructions. Wiechmann (2015) also emphasizes that acquisition of object relative clauses may be hard to process.…”

“…Studies regarding relative clause have been incremental in Turkish context as well (Boran, 2018;Ordem, 2017;Ordem, Özezen, Darancık, Mavaşoğlu and Hadutoğlu 2018;Ozcelik, 2006;Paluluoğlu, 2017;Turan, 2012Turan, , 2018Yas, 2016). However, there are fewer studies on the production of adjective clauses.…”

“…This asymmetric structural movement may affect the acquisition of relative clauses in object position in English. The following sentences were also used in Ordem's study (Ordem, 2017) However, English retains each preposition in canonical word order and object relative clauses, while direct object relative clause does not need any preposition as shown in Table 2. English may use different relativizers such as that, which, who, whom in the case of object relative clauses.…”

“…This asymmetric structural movement may affect the acquisition of relative clauses in object position in English. The following sentences were also used in Ordem's study (Ordem, 2017)…”

“…Thus, it can be said that English tends to utilize different relativizers and different preposition positioning in object relative clauses. The following sentences were also used in Ordem's study (Ordem, 2017).…”