One of the fundamental questions in second language (L2) research asks whether L2 learners can access inflectional morphology in real time to process sentences in a native-like manner. More recently, research has indicated that the L2 parser is less efficient than the native parser, and only near native learners may be capable of processing sentences like native speakers (Hopp, 2010; Keating, 2009). Furthermore, L2 learners may continue to rely on nonnative-like processing strategies to make up for processing deficits in L2 comprehension, even after inflectional morphology has been acquired (Ellis & Sagarra, 2010; LoCoco, 1987; VanPatten, 1984, 1990, 1996). The current dissertation examines such behavior by examining the development and processing of subject/verb agreement in L2 Spanish. L1 English/L2 Spanish speakers completed two self-paced reading tasks that testeds whether they perceived errors in morphological inflection, and whether they could reliably use morpho-syntactic cues during real time processing. A third self-paced reading task examined whether L2 learners' processing was facilitated by the presence of overt subjects. Results suggest that while L2 learners showed sensitivity to some errors, the parser did not regularly process inflection during on-line comprehension. Furthermore, L2 learner processing was facilitated by the presence of an overt subject. These results are compatible with the prediction that L2 parsers are less efficient than L1 parsers, and that L2 learners may continue to rely on L1 or universal processing measures after morphological inflection has been acquired.
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