Variation in first and second language French

This paper looks at the distribution of parce que (subordinating and non-subordinating because) in native and non-native (students at a UK university) speakers of French. In both first and second language data, the use of parce que sequences is found to vary quantitatively from one type of speech situation to another. In the non-native speaker group, this variation is found irrespective of year of study: first year learners are often just as variable (even more so in some instances) as fourth year learners in terms of the distribution of parce que sequences.