The phenomenon under investigation was the dative alternation, i.e. the factors influencing the choice between the NP/noun phrase dative ("I give him the book") and the PP/prepositional phrase dative ("I give the book to him"). It is generally assumed, that factors holding an influence over the dative choice are, among others, the syntactic complexity/length of the indirect object and the verbs used.
In order to find out which factor is more influential in the choice, both factors were considered in the study. Some verbs, like give, promise, lend and mail, have a tendency towards the usage with the NP dative - that means that they would not be used with the PP dative, and this would thus mean that the NP dative would be used more often when these verbs occur - if the verb choice influences the dative form more than the syntactic complexity, that is.
Table of Contents
1. The phenomenon under investigation
2. 2. Revised project outline
a. Research questions
b. Hypotheses
c. Outline of the experiment
3. The Questionnaire
4. Data summary
a. Type and quantity of data
b. Did you have problems when obtaining the data?
c. How did you deal with those problems?
5. Methods and Results
a. How did you analyze your data?
b. What are your results?
c. Reference to the hypothesis
6. Short project summary
a. Introduction
b. Methodology
c. Results
d. Discussion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the dative alternation—specifically the choice between noun phrase (NP) and prepositional phrase (PP) datives—among German L2 speakers of English. The study seeks to determine if syntactic complexity or verb choice exerts a more significant influence on the speakers' construction preferences.
- Probabilistic grammatical constraints in second language acquisition
- Influence of syntactic complexity and verb choice on dative constructions
- Comparison of construction preferences across different proficiency levels
- L2 speaker behavior regarding dative alternation
Excerpt from the Book
1. The phenomenon under investigation
The phenomenon under investigation was the dative alternation, i.e. the factors influencing the choice between the NP/noun phrase dative (“I give him the book”) and the PP/prepositional phrase dative (“I give the book to him”).
It is generally assumed, that factors holding an influence over the dative choice are, among others, the syntactic complexity/length of the indirect object and the verbs used. In order to find out which factor is more influential in the choice, both factors were considered in the study. Some verbs, like give, promise, lend and mail, have a tendency towards the usage with the NP dative - that means that they would not be used with the PP dative, and this would thus mean that the NP dative would be used more often when these verbs occur - if the verb choice influences the dative form more than the syntactic complexity, that is.
When looking at syntactic complexity, three main levels can be found: short, long and equal length. It was assumed that the length would influence the choice of NP or PP dative more so than the verb.
Summary of Chapters
1. The phenomenon under investigation: Defines the dative alternation and the variables—syntactic complexity and verb choice—that influence the preference for NP or PP constructions.
2. 2. Revised project outline: Details the research questions and specific hypotheses regarding L2 proficiency and the influence of syntactic complexity on dative choices.
3. The Questionnaire: Presents the methodological tool used to collect data from participants to assess their linguistic "feeling" for dative structures.
4. Data summary: Explains the composition of the proficiency test, the participant groups, and how invalid responses were addressed.
5. Methods and Results: Describes the analytical process using Excel, pivot tables, and chi-square tests, followed by the presentation of findings.
6. Short project summary: Provides a reflective synthesis of the study, re-evaluating the findings in relation to the initial research goals and hypotheses.
Keywords
Dative alternation, NP dative, PP dative, Syntactic complexity, L2 speakers, Language acquisition, Proficiency levels, Grammatical constraints, Verb choice, Linguistic performance, Empirical research, Questionnaire study
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this portfolio?
The study examines the dative alternation in English as a second language, specifically focusing on the factors that drive German L2 speakers to prefer either NP or PP dative constructions.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The paper explores the intersection of syntactic complexity, verb choice, and speaker proficiency in shaping language learners' grammatical choices.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to determine the role of probabilistic grammatical constraints and how syntactic complexity and verb choice influence dative constructions among German L2 learners.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The authors utilized a questionnaire-based approach, combining a proficiency test with specific items testing dative preferences, and analyzed the resulting data using statistical tools like the chi-square test.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The body covers the theoretical basis of dative alternation, the project design, the data collection procedure, statistical analysis of results, and a critical discussion of the findings.
How would you characterize this work with keywords?
Key terms include dative alternation, syntactic complexity, L2 acquisition, learner proficiency, and grammatical variation.
Did the study confirm that verb choice is the most influential factor?
No, the study found that verb choice had less influence than anticipated, whereas the syntactic complexity of the indirect object was a much stronger driver for the chosen dative form.
How did learner proficiency impact the results?
Higher proficiency speakers showed a greater tendency toward the NP dative, which aligns more closely with native speaker usage, while lower proficiency speakers preferred the PP dative.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Michelle Blum (Autor:in), 2019, The Dative Alternation. Investigating Grammatical Variation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1128286
