ERIC Number: EJ1330390
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Mar
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-2631
EISSN: N/A
Acquiring L2 Pronoun Interpretation Biases: Implicit Learning at the Discourse Level in L2 English
Contemori, Carla; Mossman, Sabrina; Ramos, Alba K.
Studies in Second Language Acquisition, v44 n1 p210-227 Mar 2022
Learners of a nonnull subject language (e.g., English) whose first language (L1) is a null subject language (e.g., Spanish) can show some optionality in the interpretation of overt subject pronouns in the second language (L2). By exposing L2 learners to nativelike interpretations of pronouns in discourse, we aim at understanding how exposure can promote implicit learning of pronoun comprehension biases in a L2. A sentence comprehension task was used with intermediate-proficiency English L2 speakers (L1 Spanish) that included a pretest, an exposure phase using the priming technique, an immediate posttest, and a delayed posttest administered 6--10 days later. English learners showed a significant increase in nativelike pronoun interpretations both in the immediate posttest and in the delayed posttest, in comparison to the pretest. The results show that exposure through priming can be effective in changing L2 participants' interpretations and that effects of exposure are persistent and may aid in the successful acquisition of pronoun resolution biases.
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, English (Second Language), Spanish, Native Language, Form Classes (Languages), Priming, Learning Processes, Language Proficiency, Language Processing, Language Classification, Task Analysis, Sentence Structure, Pretests Posttests, Language Tests, Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
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Audience: N/A
Language: English
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