Event-distributivity in L2 Acquisition: Korean EFL Learners’ Interpretation of English Universal Quantifiers Every and All

• 발행기관: 한국영미어문학회
• 저자명: Yoon-Ho Jeon Jihyun Kim
• 간행물 정보: 『영미어문학』제156호, 155~176쪽, 전체 22쪽
• 주제분류: 어문학 > 영어와문학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2025.03.31

국문 초록

This study examines how Korean EFL learners interpret the English universal quantifiers every and all, focusing on event-distributivity, which is often overlooked in L2 acquisition research. While every N is inherently distributive, all N allows both distributive and collective readings depending on scope and syntactic position. Prior studies on L2 acquisition of distributivity have primarily analyzed these quantifiers through scope ambiguity, without fully addressing event-distributivity. To bridge this gap, an Acceptability Judgment Task was conducted with 39 Korean learners, examining their interpretation of (entity-)distributive, collective, and event-distributive readings. The results indicate that learners distinguish event-distributive interpretations from collective interpretations, which could otherwise be incorrectly derived through a simple scope-based analysis. The findings highlight the need for explicit instruction on event-distributivity to enhance learners’ understanding of universal quantifiers in English.

목차

1. Introduction

2. Theoretical Background and Previous Studies

3. The Experiment

4. Results and Discussions

5. Conclusion

Works Cited

키워드

event distribution universal quantifiers every all distributive interpretation collective interpretation