View in EDS PDF Full Text

The Instantiation of the Given-before-New Principle in English Datives by Korean EFL Learners.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Instantiation of the Given-before-New Principle in English Datives by Korean EFL Learners.
Authors: Kang, Sang-Gu1 kangsg39@hanmail.net
Source: Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics. 2025, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p45-57. 13p.
Subject Terms: *Language transfer (Language learning), *Fluency (Language learning), Koreans, Pragmatics
Abstract: This study investigates the instantiation of the given-before-new (GN) principle in the English dative alternation by Korean EFL learners. While native speakers use the prepositional dative (PD) when the theme is given, and the double object dative (DOD) when the recipient is given, L2 learners often struggle with this pragmatic constraint. An elicited written production task was administered to 68 Korean university students categorized as intermediate level (IL) and low level (LL) based on their official proficiency scores. The results show a significant effect of proficiency, with the IL group demonstrating a higher frequency of target GN order responses than the LL group in both the given-theme and given-recipient conditions. However, overall compliance with the GN principle was low, as both groups demonstrated a preference for the PD construction across conditions. Crucially, the LL group exhibited a high frequency of a unique error: the to-drop construction (e.g., sent the pictures ø his wife), accounting for approximately 70% of their non-dative responses. This error, rarely observed in other L2 populations, can be viewed as a distinct developmental path for Korean EFL learners influenced by the characteristics of their L1 Korean dative structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics is the property of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics (PAAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 190724503
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Instantiation of the Given-before-New Principle in English Datives by Korean EFL Learners.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kang%2C+Sang-Gu%22">Kang, Sang-Gu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> kangsg39@hanmail.net</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Pan-Pacific+Association+of+Applied+Linguistics%22">Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p45-57. 13p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+transfer+%28Language+learning%29%22">Language transfer (Language learning)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluency+%28Language+learning%29%22">Fluency (Language learning)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Koreans%22">Koreans</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pragmatics%22">Pragmatics</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates the instantiation of the given-before-new (GN) principle in the English dative alternation by Korean EFL learners. While native speakers use the prepositional dative (PD) when the theme is given, and the double object dative (DOD) when the recipient is given, L2 learners often struggle with this pragmatic constraint. An elicited written production task was administered to 68 Korean university students categorized as intermediate level (IL) and low level (LL) based on their official proficiency scores. The results show a significant effect of proficiency, with the IL group demonstrating a higher frequency of target GN order responses than the LL group in both the given-theme and given-recipient conditions. However, overall compliance with the GN principle was low, as both groups demonstrated a preference for the PD construction across conditions. Crucially, the LL group exhibited a high frequency of a unique error: the to-drop construction (e.g., sent the pictures ø his wife), accounting for approximately 70% of their non-dative responses. This error, rarely observed in other L2 populations, can be viewed as a distinct developmental path for Korean EFL learners influenced by the characteristics of their L1 Korean dative structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics is the property of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics (PAAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190724503
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.25256/PAAL.29.2.4
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 45
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Language transfer (Language learning)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fluency (Language learning)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Koreans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pragmatics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Instantiation of the Given-before-New Principle in English Datives by Korean EFL Learners.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kang, Sang-Gu
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: 2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 13458353
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 29
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics
              Type: main
ResultId 1