Thus, this paper aims to examine to what degree the core-peripheral distinction for split intransitivity is cross-linguistically consistent and if it is possible for L2 learners of English to acquire the distinction at the syntax-lexicon interface.
the present study examines whether native English speakers and Chinese-speaking L2 learners are sensitive to the lexical constraints underlying core-peripheral distinction by testing their judgments of core and peripheral verbs in two unaccusative diagnostics.