Word Order variation in L1 and L2 Italian speakers: the role of Focus and the Unaccusativity Hierarchy

This paper investigates the Italian Word Order variation in position of subjects (S) with respect to finite predicates (V) two adult populations: L1-Italian speakers and L1-French L2-Italian speakers. We test how discourse focus (Belletti, 2001) a decomposed approach Unaccusativity, i.e., Unaccusativity Hierarchy (Sorace, 2000), determine SV/VS L1 L2 populations. The results forced-choice preference task show that both factors constrain word order speakers: VS was preferred narrow Change Location unaccusative verbs populations, although different proportions. Overall chose SV more consistently than but they did so mainly less-core Hierarchy. account for these findings suggesting return original version Interface Hypothesis 2005), which predicts interface phenomena, including those at syntax-lexicon interface, represent vulnerable domain acquisition.