VERBS OF MOTION IN RUSSIAN: AN ACQUISITIONAL PERSPECTIVE

This study discusses the acquisition of verbs of motion and their grammatical categories. In particular, it investigates how language-specific peculiarities of Russian verbs of motion influence acquisition of these verbs by young Russian-speaking children. The results indicate variation in the timing and path of the acquisition of uni- vs. multidirectional verbs. It is proposed that these differences in the acquisition of verbs of motion can be traced to variations in their semantics and in the paradigm patterning, as well as in their frequency and contexts of use. Additionally, the pedagogical implications and the possible relevance of these findings based on first language acquisition to the acquisitional strategies of adult learners are discussed.

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