Aspectual Influences on English Temporal Morphology Acquisition: Evidence from Albanian L1 Speakers

Abstract

This study investigates how Albanian native speakers acquire English temporal morphology through the theoretical lens of the Aspect Hypothesis. Employing within-category analysis of written narratives from 27 adult learners across three academic years, the research examines patterns in English tense-aspect acquisition. The investigation addresses a significant gap in second language acquisition research by focusing on an understudied L1 population. Results offer at most limited support for Aspect Hypothesis predictions. Of the five comparisons tested, only one reached the Bonferroni-corrected threshold, and the most consistent pattern — high rates of past marking with states in every cohort, with no significant difference between them — runs counter to the predicted developmental sequence. An interpretation in terms of L1 transfer is consistent with these patterns, but this study reports no quantitative estimate of the size of any transfer effect. These findings contribute to ongoing debates about universality versus language-specific factors in temporal morphology use.

Correction published [2026/10/12]. This article has been corrected: Tables 1, 3 and 6 have been revised and two claims have been withdrawn (see the Correction notice). The corrected version supersedes the version published on 29 December 2025.