University of Birjand Applied Linguistics Inquiry 2821-0441 1 2 2023 09 30 Wh-acquisition: A Cross-linguistic Comparison of Persian and English 49 59 2752 10.22077/ali.2023.7239.1026 EN Masoomeh Taghizadeh Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, Department of English Language & Literature, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran. Somayeh Baniasad-Azad Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics, Department of Foreign Languages, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran 0000-0002-3848-7219 Journal Article 2023 03 16 This research aimed to provide insights into L1 acquisition with respect to the formation of Wh-questions by a Persian and an English child. Similarities and differences concerning the variety of patterns produced (both adult-like and non-adult-like) and the frequency and emergence order of each pattern/ Wh-word were taken into consideration. For this purpose, data from an English and a Persian child were analyzed. Based on the findings, it is argued that the Persian grammar licenses a wider range of Wh-questions patterns. Besides, unlike the prevalent in-situ state of the Wh-structure in Persian, the present study indicated it to be mostly Wh-fronted in the data production of the child at the specified developmental stages. Moreover, the English child exhibited more instances of non-adult production which can be justified by the higher complexity of the structure in English, as it demands both dislocation of the Wh-word and inversion. Implications of the study are discussed. https://ali.birjand.ac.ir/article_2752_b2ea5e977c5fc1ccfa74171a9723dd61.pdf