The Acquisition of WH-dependencies by Behdini Learners of English

The book investigates firstly the clausal environments which license gaps and resumptive (or intrusive) pronouns in Behdini. A comparison is made between Behdini and English and then in this context L1 Behdini speakers'' L2 acquisition of English wh-dependencies is investigated. Several important theoretical hypotheses about L2 acquisition and processing are evaluated. This book includes the first ever SLA study whose results prove that islands license the use of resumptive pronouns in English not only theoretically but also experimentally; this has not been explored before! The book also presents an original description and analysis of Behdini grammar an undocumented language of Iraq which shows an unusual typological profile.