Laura Di Venanzio

The aim of this study is to assess the role of functional heads in German self-repairs. The analysis, embedded into the theoretical framework of the Minimalist Program, is based upon 814 empirically collected pieces of data consisting of self-repairs in utterances of monolingual adult speakers (n = 403) and monolingual children in the process of language acquisition (n = 411). As the survey shows, functional heads play a problematic role in the analysis of self-repairs. This results from the functional head being in itself a constant cause for self-reparation. Hence, the status of functional heads needs appropriate reconsideration. The common concept of attributed assistant characteristics is challenged hereby. Two constraints have to be established for maintaining these characteristics which are postulated in related literature. Furthermore, the process of lexical access to the mental lexicon and the operation of self-monitoring in speech production suggest to be discussed in connection with the results of this study.

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For more than a decade, there is intensive investigation of heritage languages, originating but not restricted to heritage languages in the USA. The crucial research questions concern the nature of the observed effects of influence from the majority language on the heritage languages, i.e. is it language attrition/loss (affecting the first generation migrants), implying incomplete acquisition (in the second and subsequent generation) or language change? To date, there is yet not much research on heritage languages in Germany. The present paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing debate with data from first and second generation Spanish heritage speakers (n = 8 in both groups) in Germany as compared to a control group of Spaniards (n = 7). The results of the analysis of object omissions and (in particular clitic) realizations show that both, language attrition and incomplete acquisition can be clearly excluded for the groups investigated. None of the investigated aspects did reveal statistically significant differences between the different groups.