Representation and Processing of Non-Finites in L1 and L2 German

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Denisa Bordag
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: from 2016 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 324311106

In the follow-up period, we intend to address the finding of the first project phase which indicated that the typologically proposed word-category of non-finites might be psycholinguisticly real. In a series of priming experiments, we want to examine whether German conversion nouns, infinitives, and participles II are similarly represented and processed, and whether they have homogeneous properties in terms of their word class membership. Furthermore, we want to explore whether non-finites are morphologically derivations or inflected forms, or whether they may represent an intermediate category not only with respect to their word classes status (i.e., between verbs and nouns), but also with respect to their formation (derivation vs. inflection). We also want to continue the comparison between native speakers and advanced language learners to gain insights into possible differences in the representation and processing of overtly identical morphologically complex forms in L1 and L2.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants