An Empirical Study of Third Language Acquisition of English Reflexive Binding by Uyghur Speakers

The study investigates how Uyghur speakers with Mandarin as their second language acquire L3 English reflexive binding.The results show that while learners acquire subject antecedents in double object constructions and the c-commanding requirement of antecedents, they incorrectly allow for long-distance binding of English reflexives to subject antecedents, probably under the transfer effect of their second language Mandarin reflexive, in support of the L2 Status Factor view.The paper discusses the implications of the findings on possible language transfer sources in third language acquisition.