Variable Production of English Object-Experiencer Psych Predicates by L1 Thai EFL First-Year University Students: An Application of the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH)

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Published: Jul 19, 2023
Keywords:
variable production psych verbs psych predicates Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis MSIH

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Montakarn Shutt
Language Institute, Thammasat University, Thailand
Supong Tangkiengsirisin
Language Institute, Thammasat University, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the variable production of English Object-Experiencer (OE) psych predicates among 80 L1 Thai EFL first-year university students. Psych verbs are notable for posing difficulty for learners due to a unique property that violates Grimshaw’s (1990) Thematic Hierarchy. The participants were given a cloze test and a translation test with six psych verbs and corresponding predicates, and six individuals were chosen to perform the spontaneous oral translation. Based on the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH), the findings validated two of the study’s research questions. First, variable production was detected in L1 Thai students’ usage of OE psych predicates in three grammatical constructions examined. Second, the MSIH attributed variable production of L2 functional morphology to mapping problems: L1 Thai students were confused about how to link thematic roles to subject and object positions since the OE psych predicates breached the Thematic Hierarchy. Furthermore, the MSIH reveals that phono-syntactic factors play a role in variable production, indicating that during live translation, participants struggled with the -ed sound while forming correct copular verbs required in sentences with OE psych predicates.

Article Details

How to Cite
Shutt, M., & Tangkiengsirisin, S. (2023). Variable Production of English Object-Experiencer Psych Predicates by L1 Thai EFL First-Year University Students: An Application of the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis (MSIH). LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 16(2), 94–113. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/LEARN/article/view/266935
Issue
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2023): LEARN Journal (July-December)
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Montakarn Shutt, Language Institute, Thammasat University, Thailand

A graduate student in Career English for International Communication (CEIC), Language Institute of Thammasat University, Thailand, she aspires to become a university lecturer. Among her research interests are global Englishes, sociolinguistics, second language writing, and translation studies.

Supong Tangkiengsirisin, Language Institute, Thammasat University, Thailand

An Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and the Director of Thammasat University’s Language Institute in Thailand. He received his PhD in English Studies from the University of Nottingham. His research interests include genre analysis, interlanguage pragmatics, and second language writing. He has over 30 years of experience teaching at the tertiary level.

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