Illicit Object Drop by Japanese-speaking Learners of English: Further Evidence against the L1 Transfer Account

Abstract

This study investigates illicit object drop by elementary/lower-intermediate Japanese-speaking learners of English (JLEs). While it is reported in the literature (e.g., Wakabayashi & Negishi, 2003) that elementary/lower-intermediate JLEs frequently drop objects in obligatory contexts, why they produce such errors is still under debate. Using a forced-choice pointing task (Jiang & Haryu, 2014, 2016; Noble, Rowland & Pine, 2011), we investigate to what extent L1 transfer from Japanese (which allows extensive null arguments) is responsible for JLEs' object drop errors. The results of the experiments show that native Japanese speakers interpret sentences with one nominative argument (e.g., the man and the woman are gorping) differently in their L1 (Japanese) than in their L2 (English). Based on the results, it is concluded that L1 transfer has little effect on illicit object drop by JLEs.