Intact Syntax, Variable Morphology: A Case Study of a Child L1 Arabic Learner of English
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| Title: | Intact Syntax, Variable Morphology: A Case Study of a Child L1 Arabic Learner of English |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Abdulaziz Alnajmi |
| Source: | English Teaching. 2025 80(4):129-151. |
| Availability: | Korea Association of Teachers of English. 6105 English Education Department, Chinju National University of Education, 369beon-gil 3, Jinyangho-ro, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, 52673, Republic of Korea. Tel: +82-42-629-7381; Fax: +82-42-629-7320; e-mail: katejournal29@gmail.com; Web site: https://journal.kate.or.kr/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 23 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Longitudinal Studies, Case Studies, Arabic, Morphology (Languages), Syntax, Children, Grammar, Arabs, Foreign Countries, Language Classification, Child Language |
| Geographic Terms: | Canada |
| ISSN: | 1017-7108 2671-9312 |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the interlanguage grammar of a child second language (cL2), and argues for the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH). It analyzes a novel longitudinal case study documenting a native Arabic-speaking child acquiring English naturalistically from age four. The findings reveal a clear dissociation between the learner's highly variable use of inflectional morphology and her otherwise robust syntactic competence. Despite inconsistent verbal inflections, the learner consistently demonstrated high accuracy in complex syntactic domains, including null subjects, case assignment, and English-specific question formation. Notably, the data show a lack of observable negative transfer in production from her L1 (Arabic), despite major typological differences, a finding that challenges strong L1 determinism in early cL2 acquisition. The learner's error patterns align with Grammatical Conservatism, where morphological omissions co-occur with syntactic accuracy. These results validate the MSIH in a previously undocumented L1-L2 pairing and underscore the distinction between core computation and its surface realization in second language acquisition. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1493964 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Header | DbId: eric DbLabel: ERIC An: EJ1493964 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Intact Syntax, Variable Morphology: A Case Study of a Child L1 Arabic Learner of English – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abdulaziz+Alnajmi%22">Abdulaziz Alnajmi</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22English+Teaching%22"><i>English Teaching</i></searchLink>. 2025 80(4):129-151. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: Korea Association of Teachers of English. 6105 English Education Department, Chinju National University of Education, 369beon-gil 3, Jinyangho-ro, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, 52673, Republic of Korea. Tel: +82-42-629-7381; Fax: +82-42-629-7320; e-mail: katejournal29@gmail.com; Web site: https://journal.kate.or.kr/ – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 23 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+Studies%22">Longitudinal Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+Studies%22">Case Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arabic%22">Arabic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Morphology+%28Languages%29%22">Morphology (Languages)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Syntax%22">Syntax</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grammar%22">Grammar</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arabs%22">Arabs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Classification%22">Language Classification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Language%22">Child Language</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 1017-7108<br />2671-9312 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This paper investigates the interlanguage grammar of a child second language (cL2), and argues for the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH). It analyzes a novel longitudinal case study documenting a native Arabic-speaking child acquiring English naturalistically from age four. The findings reveal a clear dissociation between the learner's highly variable use of inflectional morphology and her otherwise robust syntactic competence. Despite inconsistent verbal inflections, the learner consistently demonstrated high accuracy in complex syntactic domains, including null subjects, case assignment, and English-specific question formation. Notably, the data show a lack of observable negative transfer in production from her L1 (Arabic), despite major typological differences, a finding that challenges strong L1 determinism in early cL2 acquisition. The learner's error patterns align with Grammatical Conservatism, where morphological omissions co-occur with syntactic accuracy. These results validate the MSIH in a previously undocumented L1-L2 pairing and underscore the distinction between core computation and its surface realization in second language acquisition. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: As Provided – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2026 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ1493964 |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1493964 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 23 StartPage: 129 Subjects: – SubjectFull: English (Second Language) Type: general – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Longitudinal Studies Type: general – SubjectFull: Case Studies Type: general – SubjectFull: Arabic Type: general – SubjectFull: Morphology (Languages) Type: general – SubjectFull: Syntax Type: general – SubjectFull: Children Type: general – SubjectFull: Grammar Type: general – SubjectFull: Arabs Type: general – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries Type: general – SubjectFull: Language Classification Type: general – SubjectFull: Child Language Type: general – SubjectFull: Canada Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Intact Syntax, Variable Morphology: A Case Study of a Child L1 Arabic Learner of English Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Abdulaziz Alnajmi IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1017-7108 – Type: issn-electronic Value: 2671-9312 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 80 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: English Teaching Type: main |
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