Over-use of overt subject pronouns in L2 Italian: The L1 Counts!

Many studies have revealed that L2 speakers of a null subject language tend to over-use overt subject pronouns, even at very advanced levels, and regardless of the fact that their L1 is a null or a non-null subject language (Bini 1993; Margaza and Bel 2006; Belletti, Bennati, and Sorace 2007; a. o.). In this production study, we investigate whether one and the same single factor can account for the over-production of overt subject pronouns by near-native speakers of Italian with a non-null subject L1 (English) and with a null subject L1 (Greek). Results reveal that both groups of L2ers over-produce overt subject pronouns with respect to Italian Natives, using them at a significantly higher rate in topic continuity. However, while Greek L2ers of Italian over-use overt subject pronouns when two referents are active (possibly due to a higher sensitivity to referents’ decreased activation, Arnold and Griffin 2007) English L2ers do so when only one referent is active. This suggests that English L2ers use overt subject pronouns as weak pronouns, as in their L1. Higher sensitivity to referents’ decreased activation can be observed in English L2ers in their higher use of lexical DPs with respect to Italian Natives when two referents are active. Results also reveal individual variation among speakers in the amount of overt subject pronouns produced.