| This dissertation presents a morphosyntactic analysis of the Basque auxiliary verb (AUX) and Case system. Based on this analysis, predictions for the trajectory of acquisition of AUX and Case marking by Spanish-speaking adult learners were generated and tested in a pilot study. Findings provide a solid foundation for future research, particularly into the impact of age of initial exposure to Basque.;AUX is a highly complex, multi-morphemic structure that includes clitics doubling the subject, direct object, and indirect object arguments. The distribution of these clitics is claimed to be further restricted by their featural content and the arguments with which they co-occur (Arregi & Nevins, 2012). The patterning of doubled clitics in Basque proves a challenge to many analyses of this phenomenon (e.g., Jaeggli, 1992; Roberts, 2010; Sportiche, 1996; Suner, 1988; Uriagereka, 1995). Further, current analyses of clitic doubling in Basque (Arregi & Nevins, 2012) are predicated on questionable assumptions about underlying syntactic structure. The analysis here extends the M-merger approach to clitic doubling (Harizanov, 2014; Kramer, 2014) to the Basque data, suggesting further restrictions and modifications to this operation. In the course of providing an account for doubled clitics, this dissertation reviews proposals on multiple aspects of Basque clause structure and Case assignment (e.g., Arregi & Nevins, 2012; Laka, 2006a, 2006b; Preminger, 2011, 2012; Rezac, Albizu, & Etxepare, 2014; Rezac, 2008a, 2008b), and synthesizes these accounts to offer a cohesive view of the syntactic and morphological derivation of AUX.;The dissertation then turns to the potential for second language (L2) learners to acquire the Basque AUX and Case system, noting that inflectional morphology is a well-known challenge for L2 learners (Hopp, 2009; Lardiere, 2007; White, 2003, among others). A pilot study was conducted with native speakers, speakers who acquired Basque in early childhood, and L2 learners, which provides a strong basis for continued investigation. Issues to be pursued further include the impact of age of first exposure to Basque, whether nativelike performance can be achieved by individual adult L2 learners, and if the challenge in AUX and Case marking production lies in the syntactic domain or in the morphology. |
