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In:New Frontiers and Connections in Second Language Acquisition: Selected Proceedings of the 17th Generative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition (GASLA-17) Conference
Edited by Tania Ionin and Silvina Montrul
[Language Acquisition and Language Disorders 71] 2026
► pp. 302–330

Acquiring expressions of generic meanings in L3 Norwegian

 | NTNU — Norwegian University of Science and Technology
 | University of Southampton | UiT — The Arctic University of Norway
 | NTNU — Norwegian University of Science and Technology | UiT — The Arctic University of Norway
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This study examines the acquisition of singular generic expressions in L3 Norwegian. Using a contextualized Acceptability Judgment Task, we tested generic markers, known for their polysemy. Norwegian generics align partially with both Polish and English, allowing the target speakers to master genericity in L3 Norwegian via their previously acquired languages. Two L1-user groups were tested: English and Polish. The Polish learners were further split into immersive (residing in Norway) and instructed (residing in Poland) groups. No acquisition was observed in the instructed group. Evidence of cross-linguistic influence from English was established in the immersive group. We conclude that both the participants’ native language (Polish vs. English) and the degree of exposure (immersive vs. instructed) influenced the L3 acquisition process.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Genericity as a semantic universal
    • 2.1Form-to-meaning mappings of genericity
      in the target language: Norwegian
    • 2.2Form-to-meaning mappings in Polish and English
  • 3.The present experimental study
    • 3.1Rationale for the study
    • 3.2Participants
    • 3.3Methodology
    • 3.4Materials
    • 3.5Procedure
  • 4.Analysis and results
    • 4.1Data coding
    • 4.2Proficiency
    • 4.3Analytical methods
    • 4.3L2 English results
    • 4.4L3 Norwegian: Main task results, Polish groups
    • 4.5L3 Norwegian: Group comparisons
  • 5.Discussion
  • Ethics approval
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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