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Applied Linguistics 1988 9(4):385-401; doi:10.1093/applin/9.4.385
© 1988 by Oxford University Press
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A Semantic and Prototype Discussion of the ‘be easy to V’ Structure: A Possible Explanation of its Acquisition Process

TOSHIHIKO YAMAOKA

Hyogo University of Education

In order to show the validity of a semantic approach to language acquisition which assumes the priority of semantics over syntax, the be easy to V structure was analysed in terms of semantic features of sentences with this structure. The concept of prototype is adopted with regard to their semantic transparency. It is shown that these sentences can be classified into types, ranging from the ‘prototype’ having the most features contributing to its transparency to the ‘peripheral’ with the fewest of such features. Experimental data gathered from Japanese adult learners of English supported the prototype organization of these sentences. It is suggested that the acquisition of the structure starts with its identification in the prototype sentences and that it is gradually applied to more and more peripheral types.


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