Knowledge of nativelike selections in a L2

TY - JOUR

T1 - Knowledge of nativelike selections in a L2

AU - Foster, Pauline

AU - Bolibaugh, Cylcia

AU - Kotula, Agnieszka

PY - 2014/3/1

Y1 - 2014/3/1

N2 - It is well established that part of native speaker competence resides in knowledge of conventionalized word combinations, or nativelike selections (NLSs). This article reports an investigation into the receptive NLS knowledge of second language (L2) users of English in both the United Kingdom and Poland and the influence of a variety of independent variables on this knowledge. Results indicate that only an early start (<12 years old) in an immersion setting guarantees nativelikeness. Long exposure in late starters brings moderate gains in both settings but not to nativelike levels; positive feelings toward the L2 and motivation to interact in it bear little to no relationship with NLS; phonological short-term memory (pSTM) is the only predictor of NLS ability in immersion late starters, with no effect found in a foreign language setting. Our results suggest that NLS is subject to age effects and that, for late starters, a good pSTM and L2 immersion are necessary for the acquisition of this dimension of L2 knowledge.

AB - It is well established that part of native speaker competence resides in knowledge of conventionalized word combinations, or nativelike selections (NLSs). This article reports an investigation into the receptive NLS knowledge of second language (L2) users of English in both the United Kingdom and Poland and the influence of a variety of independent variables on this knowledge. Results indicate that only an early start (<12 years old) in an immersion setting guarantees nativelikeness. Long exposure in late starters brings moderate gains in both settings but not to nativelike levels; positive feelings toward the L2 and motivation to interact in it bear little to no relationship with NLS; phonological short-term memory (pSTM) is the only predictor of NLS ability in immersion late starters, with no effect found in a foreign language setting. Our results suggest that NLS is subject to age effects and that, for late starters, a good pSTM and L2 immersion are necessary for the acquisition of this dimension of L2 knowledge.

KW - second language acquisition

KW - formulaic language

KW - age effects

KW - Individual differences

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84897025668&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0272263113000624

DO - 10.1017/S0272263113000624

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84897025668

SN - 0272-2631

VL - 36

SP - 101

EP - 132

JO - Studies in Second Language Acquisition

JF - Studies in Second Language Acquisition

IS - 1

ER -