This paper investigates second language (L2) learners’ sensitivity to illicit extractions out of adjuncts in two different constructions (wh-questions and relative clauses) to advance our understanding of the role of innate principles in L2 acquisition. Assuming that extractions out of adjuncts are barred by an innate principle, formulated by Belikova and White (2009) as the revised Condition on Extraction Domain (CED), this study examines L2 learners of English (in which the revised CED operates) with two distinct mother tongues: speakers of French (in which the revised CED also operates) and speakers of Japanese (in which the revised CED is inactive). The results of an acceptability judgment task preceded by self-paced reading found that some, but not all, learners showed sensitivity to illicit extractions irrespective of their mother tongue or construction, corroborating the view that innate principles that are inactive in a learner’s mother tongue are still available in L2 acquisition.
