The acquisition of the constraints on Wanna-contraction by Jordanian students learning English as a foreign language : a universal grammar account

Other Title(s)

اكتساب قواعد اختصار التركيب اللغوي want to إلى wanna من قبل الطلبة الأردنيين الذين يتعلمون اللغة الإنجليزية كلغة أجنبية من وجهة نظر نظرية القواعد العالمية

Dissertant

al-Butush, Rua Ali Salih

Thesis advisor

al-Sarayirah, Atif Ata Allah Id

Comitee Members

Abd al-Haqq, Fawwaz Muhammad
al-Aqarbah, Raniya Nayif
al-Jaafirah, Ali Abd al-Mahdi

University

Mutah University

Faculty

Faculty of Arts

Department

Department of English Language and Literature

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2017

English Abstract

This study aims to investigate the acquisition of the constraints on wanna-contraction by foreign language learners.

An experimental study was conducted on native speakers of Jordanian Arabic, a language with overt wh-movement, learning English, also a language with overt wh-movement, as a foreign language.

The informants were classified as beginners, intermediates, and upper-intermediates based on a placement test.

The results of the study showed that Jordanian learners of English as a foreign language may not have access to the principles of Universal Grammar including those that are instantiated in their L1.

In particular, the participants of the study were not aware of the constraints on wanna-contraction in English in spite of the claim that wanna-contraction is regulated by principles of Universal Grammar that are operative in the participants' first language.

This study poses a serious challenge to previous studies on Universal Grammar and second language acquisition that predict principles of Universal Grammar to transfer from the learner's first language to the second language.

Moreover, the results of this study suggested that wanna-contraction may not be regulated by principles of UG since neither the previous studies on the acquisition of the constraints on wanna-contraction, nor this study supported the availability of the constraints on wanna-contraction in second language acquisition

Main Subjects

Languages & Comparative Literature

No. of Pages

71

Table of Contents

Table of contents.

Abstract.

Abstract in Arabic.

Chapter One : The theoretical background.

Chapter Two : Review of selected literature.

Chapter Three : Design and methodology.

Chapter Four : Findings, discussion, and recommendations.

References.

American Psychological Association (APA)

al-Butush, Rua Ali Salih. (2017). The acquisition of the constraints on Wanna-contraction by Jordanian students learning English as a foreign language : a universal grammar account. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Mutah University, Jordan
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-780309

Modern Language Association (MLA)

al-Butush, Rua Ali Salih. The acquisition of the constraints on Wanna-contraction by Jordanian students learning English as a foreign language : a universal grammar account. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Mutah University. (2017).
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-780309

American Medical Association (AMA)

al-Butush, Rua Ali Salih. (2017). The acquisition of the constraints on Wanna-contraction by Jordanian students learning English as a foreign language : a universal grammar account. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Mutah University, Jordan
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-780309

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-780309