Abstract

Prepositions are one of the most persistent non target-like features of late bilinguals L2 speech.
However L2 use of prepositions has not been systematically analysed and the teaching of
prepositions in a target language heavily relies on rote memorisation. The influence of the
learners L1 is assumed, although no conclusive evidence is to be found in the literature. The aim
of this study is to examine whether French learners of English readily accept the English
translation of the preposition used in French in a grammaticality judgment task of English
sentences. Reaction time and accuracy are recorded. Although data thus collected support this
hypothesis, it is noteworthy that monolingual native speakers of English also accept such non
target-like, yet understandable, use of prepositions. The accuracy scores of monolingual speakers
of English do not significantly differ from those of French learners of English (p>0.5). One
possible explanation for the data collected here and recurrent comments by ESL/EFL teachers
and English language learners is what determines the use of prepositions in a language is the
conceptualisation of the lexical items that follows and/or precedes the preposition. In this study,
the focus was on space adverbials and on conceptualisations of the lexical items following
prepositions, and the behavioural variations between native speakers of French and native
speakers of English in this respect.