The Analysis of the L2 Performances of Turkish Speakers on the Island Constraints in English to Assess the Validity of the Interpretability Hypothesis

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the validity of the Interpretability Hypothesis by analyzing the performances of the Turkish L2 leaners of English on island constraints on wh-movement in English. The data of the study were collected through a Grammaticality Judgment Test, Wh-Question Formation Test and Translation Test. Along with a native control group (N:58), four learner groups were formed according to the place they live (USA or Turkey) and their level of proficiency in English (advance or intermediate) (N:46, N:38, N:20, N:30 respectively). The results of the study also emphasized the importance of positive evidence in L2 acquisition process. According to the results, the uninterpretable strong wh-feature (uwh*) appeared to be available only for the highly proficient L2 learner of English who are exposed to natural input in this language, yet not for the other group who acquired this language only in their home country.