L2 learners’ processing of reconstruction in english: a minimalist account1

Abstract

In this introduction, I will first address anaphoric relations and Binding Theory. Then I will discuss reconstruction (sentences with a reflexive inside a fronted noun phrase that involves overt movement of a wh-element) from the perspective of Chomsky’s (1993, 1995) Minimalist program, and how reconstruction presents a logical problem of language acquisition for Chinese EFL learners. Finally I will review psycholinguistic accounts regarding processing sentences with a fronted wh-phrase and second language research on sentence processing.