The adjective in Dutch-French codeswitching: Word order and agreement

Wyngaerd, Emma Vanden

doi:10.1177/1367006916632302

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…In general, Welsh-English code-switching data show clear regularities, with Welsh grammar determining word order in bilingual clauses with very few exceptions (see Deuchar et al, 2018). However, due to the generally low occurrence of attributive adjectives in production data, determining the grammatical constraints that may predict code-switching patterns has been the focus of attention of many studies, not only on Welsh-English code-switching (Parafita Couto et al, 2015, 2017 but also on adjective-noun code-switching in other language pairs where the switch point also constitutes a conflict site (e.g., Spanish-English, Papiamento-Dutch, or French-Dutch). Most of these studies examined patterns of adjective-noun switching in different bilingual populations and using different methodologies, to evaluate the predictions of two theoretical accounts: the Matrix Language Framework (MLF, Myers-Scotton, 1993) and the Minimalist Programme approach (MP, Cantone and MacSwan, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… Vanden Wyngaerd (2017) examined the predictions made by an MP approach ( Cantone and MacSwan, 2009 ) and the MLF regarding both word order as well as adjectival agreement patterns in French–Dutch mixed nominal constructions. In Dutch, adjectives occur pre-nominally, whilst adjectives are predominantly post-nominal in French, thus allowing for a direct contrast of both models.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Switchmate! An Electrophysiological Attempt to Adjudicate Between Competing Accounts of Adjective-Noun Code-Switching

et al. 2020

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Here, we used event-related potentials to test the predictions of two prominent accounts of code-switching in bilinguals: The Matrix Language Framework (MLF; Myers-Scotton, 1993 ) and an application of the Minimalist Programme (MP; Cantone and MacSwan, 2009 ). We focused on the relative order of the noun with respect to the adjective in mixed Welsh–English nominal constructions given the clear contrast between pre- and post-nominal adjective position between Welsh and English. MP would predict that the language of the adjective should determine felicitous word order (i.e., English adjectives should appear pre-nominally and Welsh adjectives post-nominally). In contrast, MLF contends that it is the language of the finite verb inflexion rather than that of a particular word that governs felicitous word order. To assess the predictions of the two models, we constructed sentences featuring a code-switch between the adjective and the noun, that complied with either English or Welsh word-order. Highly proficient Welsh–English bilinguals made semantic acceptability judgements upon reading the last word of sentences which could violate MP assumptions, MLF assumptions, both assumptions, or neither. Behaviourally, MP violations had no significant effect, whereas MLF violations induced an average drop of 11% in acceptability judgements. Neurophysiologically, MP violations elicited a significant Left Anterior Negativity (LAN) modulation, whereas MLF violations modulated both P600 and LAN mean amplitudes. In addition, there was a significant interaction between MP and MLF status in the P600 range: When MP was violated, MLF status did not matter, and when MP criteria were met, MLF violations resulted in a P600 modulation. This interaction possibly reflects a general preference for noun over adjective insertions, and may provide support for MLF over MP at a global sentence processing level. Model predictions also manifested differently in each of the matrix languages (MLs): When the ML was Welsh, MP and MLF violations elicited greater P600 mean amplitudes than MP and MLF adherences, however, this pattern was not observed when the ML was English. We discuss methodological considerations relating to the neuroscientific study of code-switching, and the extent to which our results shed light on adjective-noun code-switching beyond findings from production and experimental-behavioural studies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Switchmate! An Electrophysiological Attempt to Adjudicate Between Competing Accounts of Adjective-Noun Code-Switching

et al. 2020

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“…Some comparative analyses addressing the question of adjective-noun order in codeswitched noun phrases have been done couched within the two theoretical models (MP and MLF) but with different outcomes (cf. Parafita Couto et al, 2015Parafita Couto & Gullberg, 2017;vanden Wyngaerd, 2017). Of the two models in question, Myers-Scotton's (2002) MLF differentiates the languages involved: one language is known as the matrix language (ML); and the other as the embedded language (EL).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, scholars do not agree on the best theoretical account of these regularities. Recently, an interest has emerged in evaluating the predictions of theoretical models to try to disentangle between theoretical predictions (see Blokzijl, Deuchar, & Parafita Couto, 2017; Eppler, Luescher, & Deuchar, 2017; Fairchild & Van Hell, 2017; Herring, Deuchar, Parafita Couto, & Moro Quintanilla, 2010; Parafita Couto, Boutonnet, Hoshino, Davies, Deuchar, & Thierry, 2017; Parafita Couto, Deuchar, & Fusser, 2015; Parafita Couto & Gullberg, 2017; vanden Wyngaerd, 2017). These researchers have shown that different theories account for some aspects of the observed data, but there is no overarching theory that can explain all the code-switching patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Testing alternative theoretical accounts of code-switching: Insights from comparative judgments of adjective–noun order

Stadthagen-González

Couto

Párraga

et al. 2017

International Journal of Bilingualism

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Spanish and English contrast in adjective-noun word order: e.g. brown dress (English) vs. vestido marrón ('dress brown', Spanish). According to the Matrix Language model (Myers-Scotton, 2002; MLF) word order in code-switched sentences must be compatible with the word order of the matrix language, but working within the Minimalist program, Cantone and MacSwan (2009; MP) arrived at the descriptive generalization that the position of the Noun Phrase (NP) relative to the adjective is determined by the adjective's language. Our aim is to evaluate the predictions derived from these two models regarding adjective-noun order in Spanish/English code-switched sentences. Methodology: We contrasted the predictions from both models regarding the acceptability of code-switched sentences with different adjective-noun orders that were compatible with the MP, the MLF, both, or none. Acceptability was assessed in Experiment 1 with a 5-point Likert and in Experiment 2 with a two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) task. Data and analysis: Data from both experiments were subjected to Linear Mixed Model analyses. Results from the 2AFC task were also analyzed using Thurstone's (1927) Law of Comparative Judgment. Conclusions: We found an additive effect in which both the language of the verb and the language of the adjective determine word order. Originality: Both experiments examine noun-adjective word order in English/Spanish codeswitched sentences. Experiment 2 represents a novel application of Thurstone's Law of Comparative Judgements to the study of linguistic acceptability which yielded clearer results than Likert scales. We found convincing evidence that neither the MLF nor the MP can fully account for the acceptability of noun-adjective switches. Implications: We suggest that advances in our understanding of grammaticality in codeswitching will be achieved by combining the insights of the two frameworks instead of considering them in isolation (Eppler et al. 2016), or by espousing a probabilistic model of code switching (e.g. Bresnan, 2007).

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Examining the Functional Category in Chinese–English Code-Switching: Evidence from the Eye-Movements

Zhang

et al. 2017

J Psycholinguist Res

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To investigate the grammatical constraints of code-switching (CS hereafter) under the disputes of the constraint-based account versus the constraint-free account, the effects of functional category on CS have long been investigated in the existing studies. Thus, the present study, by asking 47 participants to take part in an eye-movement experiment, examined the potential effects of functional category on Chinese-English CS. We found that differential switch costs at varying code-switched conditions as well as robust switch effects that last from the early to the late stage. The findings could tentatively give rise to the theoretical predictions of the minimalist program, a representative of the constraint-free account rather than the functional head constraint, a typical representative of the constraint-based account. Moreover, such switch effects might initiate from the early to the very late stage in terms of time-course of CS processing.

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The adjective in Dutch-French codeswitching: Word order and agreement

Cited by 12 publications

References 28 publications

Switchmate! An Electrophysiological Attempt to Adjudicate Between Competing Accounts of Adjective-Noun Code-Switching

Switchmate! An Electrophysiological Attempt to Adjudicate Between Competing Accounts of Adjective-Noun Code-Switching

Testing alternative theoretical accounts of code-switching: Insights from comparative judgments of adjective–noun order

Examining the Functional Category in Chinese–English Code-Switching: Evidence from the Eye-Movements

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