Distribution of Prodrop Syntactic Properties in L۲ English of Persian Speakers

This study set out to investigate the distribution of the syntactic properties associatedwith the prodrop parameter by Persian-speaking L۲ learners of English in an attemptto examine the (un)attainability of native-like knowledge and (in)accessibility of UGin adult SLA. To do so, ۹۲ participants were assigned into different levels of L۲knowledge based on their performances on the Oxford Placement Test (۲۰۰۱). Agrammaticality judgment test and a translation test were developed and validated inthis study. Analysis of the results indicated the following hierarchy of difficulty:referential subjects > expletives > verb-subject constraint > quasi subjects > thattraceconstraint. Findings evidence that native-like attainment of unselected L۲syntactic features is unlikely at advanced stages, but it is logically possible thatPersian-speaking L۲ learners of English attain native-like knowledge of [-prodrop]at very advanced or near-native stages of L۲ acquisition.

Keywords:

Obligatory Subjects , Parameter Resetting , That-Trace Constraint , Verb-Subject Constraint