NOUN COMBINATION IN INTERLANGUAGE: TYPOLOGY EFFECTS IN COMPLEX
DETERMINER PHRASES. Christiane Bongartz. Tübingen: Niemeyer,
2002. Pp. xv + 161. 48.00 € paper.
Bongartz's monograph uses a crosslinguistic typological approach
to examine the impact of first language (L1) noun combination strategies
on the development of analogic interlanguage forms. A three-language
comparison of the typologically distinct languages Czech, Chinese, and
English shows two basic noun combination patterns: phrasal combinations
and the use of incorporation strategies for the creation of compounds.
Czech prefers phrasal combinations, English allows for both phrasal
combinations and compounds, whereas Chinese is at the opposite end of the
typological continuum insofar as it demonstrates a preference for
compounds. Empirical data from Czech and Chinese learners of English as a
second language reveal that L1 combination preferences indeed affect which
English strategy is chosen: Czech learners use phrasal combinations more
often and Chinese learners prefer compounds.