publications

2021

1. Thesis

   The predictive power of lexical semantics on the acquisition of passive voice in young children

   Emma Nguyen

   2021

   Bib PDF

   @phdthesis{nguyen_predictive_2021,
     type = {{PhD} {Thesis}},
     title = {The predictive power of lexical semantics on the acquisition of passive voice in young children},
     school = {University of Connecticut},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma},
     year = {2021},
   }

2. LangAcq

   The link between lexical semantic features and children’s comprehension of English verbal be-passives

   Emma Nguyen, and Lisa Pearl

   Language Acquisition, 2021

   Abs Bib PDF

   Children seem to be relatively delayed in their comprehension of the verbal be-passive in English, compared to their acquisition of other constructions of object-movement such as wh-questions and unaccusatives. Prior work has found that children’s performance on these passives can be affected by the verb’s lexical semantics. Through a meta-analysis of experimental studies assessing English-speaking children’s age of acquisition for the verbal be- passive, we identify a developmental trajectory composed of five classes, where each class has a distinct lexical semantic profile. A Truth-Value Judgment (TVJ) Task assessing English-speaking children’s comprehension of verbal be-passives supports this developmental trajectory. Together, the meta-analysis and TVJ study underscore the importance of lexical semantics for understanding the development of the English verbal be-passive.

   @article{nguyen_pearl_langacq_2021,
     title = {The link between lexical semantic features and children's comprehension of English verbal <i>be</i>-passives},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Pearl, Lisa},
     journal = {Language Acquisition},
     year = {2021},
     publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
     doi = {10.1080/10489223.2021.1939354},
     url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10489223.2021.1939354?journalCode=hlac20},
     dimensions = {true},
   }

2019

1. BUCLD

   Using Developmental Modeling to Specify Learning and Representation of the Passive in English Children.

   Emma Nguyen, and Lisa Pearl

   In Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development, 2019

   Bib PDF

   @inproceedings{nguyen_using_2019,
     title = {Using {Developmental} {Modeling} to {Specify} {Learning} and {Representation} of the {Passive} in {English} {Children}.},
     booktitle = {Proceedings of the 43rd {Annual} {Boston} {University} {Conference} on {Language} {Development}},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Pearl, Lisa},
     year = {2019},
     pages = {469--482},
   }

2018

1. GALA

   Actionality Speaks Louder Than Felicity: English-Speaking Children’s Comprehension of Passives

   Emma Nguyen, Diane Lillo-Martin, and William Snyder

   Language Acquisition at the Interfaces: Proceedings of GALA 2015, 2018

   Bib PDF

   @article{nguyen_actionality_2018,
     title = {Actionality {Speaks} {Louder} {Than} {Felicity}{:} {English}-{Speaking} {Children}'s {Comprehension} of {Passives}},
     journal = {Language Acquisition at the Interfaces{:} Proceedings of GALA 2015},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Lillo-Martin, Diane and Snyder, William},
     year = {2018},
     pages = {232--246},
   }

2. NELS

   A surprising comparison: a unified account of degree “surprisingly” with bare adjectives and comparatives.

   Emma Nguyen, and Gabriel Martinez Vera

   In The Proceedings of the North East Linguistic Society (NELS 48), 2018

   Bib PDF

   @inproceedings{nguyen_martinez-vera_2018,
     title = {A surprising comparison{:} a unified account of degree “surprisingly” with bare adjectives and comparatives.},
     booktitle = {The Proceedings of the North East Linguistic Society (NELS 48)},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Martinez Vera, Gabriel},
     year = {2018},
   }

3. BUCLD

   It’s Hard to Extend: A Unified Account of Raising-Past-Experiencers and Passives in Child English

   Emma Nguyen, and William Snyder

   In Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development, 2018

   Bib PDF

   @inproceedings{nguyen_its_2018,
     title = {It's Hard to Extend{:} A Unified Account of Raising-Past-Experiencers and Passives in Child English},
     booktitle = {Proceedings of the 42nd {Annual} {Boston} {University} {Conference} on {Language} {Development}},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Snyder, William},
     year = {2018},
     pages = {598--604},
   }

4. WCCFL

   Do you really mean it? Linking lexical semantic profiles and the age of acquisition for the English passive.

   Emma Nguyen, and Lisa Pearl

   In The Proceedings of the 35th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics, 2018

   Bib PDF

   @inproceedings{nguyen_you_2018,
     title = {Do you really mean it? {Linking} lexical semantic profiles and the age of acquisition for the {English} passive.},
     booktitle = {The {Proceedings} of the 35th {West} {Coast} {Conference} on {Formal} {Linguistics}},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Pearl, Lisa},
     year = {2018},
     pages = {288--295},
   }

2017

1. BUCLD

   The (Non-) Effects of Pragmatics on Children’s Passives

   Emma Nguyen, and William Snyder

   In Proceedings of the 41st Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development, 2017

   Bib PDF

   @inproceedings{nguyen_non-_2017,
     title = {The ({Non}-) {Effects} of {Pragmatics} on {Children}’s {Passives}},
     booktitle = {Proceedings of the 41st {Annual} {Boston} {University} {Conference} on {Language} {Development}},
     author = {Nguyen, Emma and Snyder, William},
     year = {2017},
     pages = {522--531},
   }