Linguistic Interfaces in Bilingualism Research

Abstract

Previous studies on bilingualism attempted to determine the problematic linguistic structures in bilingual attainment and investigated interface syntax with a focus on structures at the pragmatics-syntax interface. In particular, they aimed at understanding which structures are difficult to acquire, acquired with a delay, open to effects of attrition, to CLI or to non-target-like treatment of the speakers. In the following I review the questions that have been addressed in bilingualism research regarding the interface syntax, and discuss the findings for each bilingual group in turn: bilingual children in Sect. 3.1, L1 attriters in Sect. 3.2, and near-native L2 speakers in Sect. 3.3. The sections within Sect. 3.3 present a critical evaluation of the claims formulated in view of the findings of these studies.