Clíticos e objetos nulos na aquisição de português L2

Abstract

This study investigates whether the acquisition of clitics in L2 Portuguese is characterised by high rates of omission, as has been observed in L1 acquisition. On the basis of production and comprehension data from three intermediate learner groups (speakers of English, Spanish and Chinese), we conclude that there is no evidence for a generalised omission strategy. Omission in L2 Portuguese appears to be determined both by properties of the learners’ L1 and by specific properties of the grammar of Portuguese, and results from an overgeneralization of the null object construction, similarly to what has been argued for L1 Portuguese.