This cross-sectional study of first language (L1) English adolescents learning French
as a second language (L2) uses their development of negatives in relation to finite
and non-finite verbs to investigate the status and nature of functional categories
in these learners’ emerging grammars. Analysing oral data from elicited
production tasks from instructed learners, it provides evidence for a lack of
functional categories in the Initial State and the earliest L2 grammars (Vainikka
and Young-Scholten, 1996; Hawkins, 2001). However, the results from the study also
indicate that the functional category I (or T) then emerges reasonably rapidly. The
pattern of development of negation and finite and non-finite verbs in these
learners’ grammars also suggests that feature values are in place for the
functional categories once they are projected, as learners consistently raise the
verb. The learners do use root infinitives but the properties of these root
infinitives differ to those found in L1 acquisition (Pierce, 1992; Wexler, 1994;
1998), thus supporting Wexler’s maturational account of Optional
Infinitives in L1 acquisition. Additionally, the rare occurrence of raised
non-finite verbs would indicate that there is a problem with the realization of
surface morphology in accordance with the Missing Surface Inflection Hypothesis of
Prévost and White (2000a) rather than an impairment in the grammar
(Meisel, 1997; Hawkins, 2000).
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