Cross-language similarity in L2 processing: An eye-tracking study

Tuninetti, Alba (2012) Cross-language similarity in L2 processing: An eye-tracking study. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

How do second language (L2) learners process L2 syntax? Using online (eye-tracking) and offline (grammaticality judgment) measures, this study examined how L2 learners of English process grammaticality in syntactic structures that were formed similarly, differently, or uniquely in L1 and L2. Native Arabic and native Mandarin Chinese speakers who were studying English as an L2 read grammatical and ungrammatical English sentences. Their reading behavior was compared to that of monolingual English speakers. L2 learners showed native-like processing of the syntactic violations compared to the native English speakers at some measures, but also demonstrated modulations in how sensitive they were to the violations based on similarity condition and cue strength. These results provide important considerations for models of L2 acquisition and bilingualism, such as the Unified Competition Model (MacWhinney, 2005) and the Shallow Structure Hypothesis (Clahsen & Felser, 2006).

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Details

Item Type:	University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Tuninetti, Alba alt63@pitt.edu ALT63
ETD Committee:	Title Member Email Address Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Tokowicz, Natasha tokowicz@pitt.edu TOKOWICZ Committee Member Perfetti, Charles perfetti@pitt.edu PERFETTI Committee Member Warren, Tessa tessa@pitt.edu TESSA
Date:	6 July 2012
Date Type:	Publication
Defense Date:	24 January 2012
Approval Date:	6 July 2012
Submission Date:	19 April 2012
Access Restriction:	5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years.
Number of Pages:	70
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology
Degree:	MS - Master of Science
Thesis Type:	Master's Thesis
Refereed:	Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Second language acquisition, L2 processing, cross-language similarity, syntax
Date Deposited:	06 Jul 2012 14:10
Last Modified:	06 Jul 2017 05:15
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11913

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