Table of Contents
Acknowledgments v
Tables and figures x
Dedication xiii
Quote xv
Introduction 1
Counterfactuality 2
The influence of L1 3
Aims and Rationale 3
1 Counterfactuality: a theoretical overview 5
1.1 Introduction 5
1.2 The ingredients of counterfactuality 5
1.2.1 Causality 6
1.2.2 Epistemic modality 8
1.2.3 Irreality 14
1.2.4 Semantic primitives and topics 16
1.3 Conclusion 17
2 Expressing conditionality in French, Spanish and Italian 18
2.1 Introduction 18
2.2 Conditionality 18
2.2.1 Latin 19
2.2.2 French 20
2.2.3 Spanish 23
2.2.4 Italian 26
2.3 Comparison of if-counterfactual constructions 27
2.4 Conclusion 28
3 Acquisition of counterfactuality in L1 and L2 29
3.1 Introduction 29
3.2 Counterfactuality in L1: Previous studies 29
3.2.1 Summary on L1 results 35
3.3 Counterfactuality in L2: Previous studies 36
3.3.1 Summary on L2 results 40
3.4 Conclusion 40
4 Methodology 42
4.1 Introduction 42
4.2 Previous studies 42
4.3 Research questions 43
4.4 Participants 44
4.4.1 French-speaking group 44
4.4.2 Spanish-speaking group 45
4.4.3 Italian-speaking group 48
4.4.4 Differences between the learners' groups 50
4.5 Stimulus and instructions 54
4.5.1 Stimulus and instructions in Spanish 57
4.5.2 Stimulus and instructions in Italian 58
4.6 Gathering and analysing the data 58
4.7 Type of text 61
4.8 Conclusion 63
5 Results In LI French, Spanish and Italian 64
5.1 Typological distance between languages 66
5.2 Modal verbs across indicative tenses 68
5.3 Morphological features within if- clauses in French 70
5.4 Morphological features within if- clauses in Spanish 74
5.5 Morphological features within if- clauses in Italian 79
5.6 Comparison between the if- clauses in French, Spanish and Italian 82
5.7 Effects of sociolinguistic factors on the L1 production 85
5.7.1 Geographical provenance 85
5.8 Conclusions 87
5.8.1 Construction of counterfactual scenarios 87
5.8.2 The use of modal verbs 87
5.8.3 Verbal morphology within if- clauses 88
5.8.4 The effect of sociological factors in L1 productions 88
6 Results in L2 French 89
6.1 Comparison between the control group's production and L2 French by Spanish speakers 91
6.1.1 The use of modal verbs in other indicative tenses different from the conditional 94
6.1.2 The use of the conditional tense within if- clauses 95
6.2 Comparison between the control group's production and L2 French by Italian speakers 96
6.2.1 Present tense 98
6.2.2 Rare use of the conditional 101
6.2.3 Frequent use of the conditional 103
6.2.4 Summary of the Italian speakers' patterns 105
6.2.5 Results in L1 Italian in the predictive task 108
6.2.6 Uses of the conditional tense in the mutation task 111
6.3 Verbal morphology within if- clauses 113
6.3.1 L2 French by Spanish speakers 113
6.3.2 L2 French by Italian speakers 115
7 Discussion 119
7.1 L2 French production by Spanish learners 119
7.1.1 Semantic implications of the modalized conditional 119
7.1.2 The use of the conditional tense within if- clauses 123
7.1.3 Proficiency levels across the learners 125
7.1.4 Conclusion 127
7.2 L2 French production by Italian learners 127
7.2.1 Verbal morphology and L2 proficiency 128
7.2.2 The rote of immersion in the production of conditional forms 130
7.2.3 Stylistic preference 131
7.2.4 LI influence 131
7.2.5 Conclusion 133
7.3 The role of conditionality in counterfactual conceptualizations 134
7.4 The semantics of counterfactuality in French and Spanish 135
Concluding remarks 138
References 141
Index 147
