Generalizing Knowledge of Second Language Collocations: The Roles of Within- and Cross-Language Similarity on Acceptability and Event-Related Potentials

Recent research has shown that knowledge of second language (L2) collocations is important to learners for improving their language processing and production but also that acquiring L2-specific collocations is a very burdensome task for learners. Thus, bootstrapping knowledge of L2 collocations through generalization is highly desirable, but this area has received surprisingly limited attention. This study examined L2 learners’ ability to generalize knowledge of recently learned verb–noun collocations during processing and whether this type of learning occurred via intralexical associations in the L2 (similarity) or was facilitated by known collocations in learners’ first language (L1). Mixed-effects regression targeting measures of learners’ brain event-related potentials revealed cross-language influence during real-time processing that preceded learners’ acceptability judgments. Both within- and cross-language similarity influenced learners’ behavioral judgments. These findings revealed cross-language integration in L1–L2 incongruent collocations from the earliest moments of processing.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Generalizing Knowledge of Second Language Collocations: The Roles of Within‐ and Cross‐Language Similarity on Acceptability and Event‐Related Potentials. Language Learning (2022)], which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12543. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions: https://authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/licensing/self-archiving.html#3.

Files

Metadata

Work Title Generalizing Knowledge of Second Language Collocations: The Roles of Within- and Cross-Language Similarity on Acceptability and Event-Related Potentials
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Manuel Pulido
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Language Learning
Publication Date November 16, 2022
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1111/lang.12543
Deposited December 05, 2022

Versions

Analytics

Collections

This resource is currently not in any collection.

Work History

Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Pre-print_L2_generalization_LL.pdf
  • Added Creator Manuel Pulido
  • Published
  • Updated Work Title, Description Show Changes
    Work Title
    • Generalizing knowledge of L2 collocations: The influence of within-language and cross-language similarity on behavior and ERPs
    • Generalizing Knowledge of Second Language Collocations: The Roles of Within- and Cross-Language Similarity on Acceptability and Event-Related Potentials
    Description
    • Recent research has shown that knowledge of collocations in another language is important to improve processing and production, but also that acquiring L2-specific collocations is a very burdensome task for learners. Given this, bootstraping knowledge of L2 collocations through generalization is highly desirable, but this area has yet received surprisingly limited attention. The present study examined L2 learners' ability to generalize knowledge of recently learned L1-L2 incongruent<br>verb-noun collocations during processing; and whether generalization occured via intralexical associations in the L2 (similarity) or was facilitated by equivalent multiword units in the L1 (i.e., via known L1 collocations). Mixed-effects regression analyses of acceptability judgements and online neurophysiological responses (event-related potentials) indicated that generalization was mediated by pre existing L1 representations, suggesting that a high degree of cross-language integration can be achieved even in L1-L2 incongruent collocations. The findings have consequences for psycholinguistic models as well as for instruction.
    • Recent research has shown that knowledge of second language (L2) collocations is important to learners for improving their language processing and production but also that acquiring L2-specific collocations is a very burdensome task for learners. Thus, bootstrapping knowledge of L2 collocations through generalization is highly desirable, but this area has received surprisingly limited attention. This study examined L2 learners ability to generalize knowledge of recently learned verbnoun collocations during processing and whether this type of learning occurred via intralexical associations in the L2 (similarity) or was facilitated by known collocations in learners’ first language (L1). Mixed-effects regression targeting measures of learners’ brain event-related potentials revealed cross-language influence during real-time processing that preceded learners’ acceptability judgments. Both within- and cross-language similarity influenced learners’ behavioral judgments. These findings revealed cross-language integration in L1L2 incongruent collocations from the earliest moments of processing.
  • Updated