Title

The role of individual characteristics in the acquisition of Spanish copula choice: The case of Korean learners

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Document Type

Contribution to a Book

Publication Title

Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics

Volume

31

DOI

10.1075/ihll.31.18lon

First Page

417

Last Page

439

Abstract

The present study examined individual patterns of use of variable Spanish copula choice by advanced-level Korean learners. Participants were nine native speakers of Korean enrolled in fourth-year Spanish courses at a South Korean university. To examine variable copula use, learners participated in a sociolinguistic interview and picture book description task from which all pre-adjectival contexts were identified and the distribution (i.e., range and frequency) of copula forms was examined. To examine individual patterns of use, learners completed a background questionnaire and Spanish grammar task. Results revealed that advanced-level Korean learners produced primarily ser, estar, and developmental omission in pre-adjectival contexts, and there was a positive relationship between higher rates of estar and four of the five individual characteristics examined.

Keywords

Individual differences, L2 Spanish, Spanish copula, Variationist approach

Department

World Languages and Literatures

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