The Acquisition of Word Order in English and Cantonese Interrogative Sentences: A Singapore Case Study

Abstract

Presented are findings of a longitudinal study of the simultaneous acquisition of Eng & Cantonese by a preschool child residing in Singapore. Data were collected from the M S between the ages 3:6 & 5:0. Attention is focused on the expression of interrogatives by the child in both langs. Some evidence of transfer from Cantonese to Eng & vice versa is found with respect to the position of interrogative words. No evidence of transfer of forms involving juxtaposition of the verbal element (eg, in yes/no questions) was found. This may be due to the significant differences in these kinds of structures in the two langs. B. Annesser Murray.