OS UNIVERSAIS TIPOLÓGICOS E A AQUISIÇÃO DAS ORAÇÕES RELATIVAS EM INGLÊS COMO L2

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how the relative clauses are processed by Portuguese speakers learning English as L2, according to typological universal theories, such as the Noun Phrase Accessibility Hierarchy NPAH - by Keenan & Comrie (1977), the Markedness Differential Hypothesis MDH by Eckman (1985), the Implicational Generalization Hypothesis IGH by Hamilton (1994) and the Subject-Object Hierarchy SOH by Hamilton (1994). The research was conducted with a group of 25 students from Curso de Graduação em Letras at the Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões in Santo Ângelo/RS who were tested pre- and post-instruction on their relative constructions. The results were consistent with the ones resulting from other studies and showed that the Brazilian learners generalize the instruction they received on a more marked level in the NPAH to the lower levels; however this generalization is not maximal.