Testing for Proficiency Effects and Crosslinguistic Influence in L2 Processing: Filler-Gap Dependencies in L2 English by Jordanian-Arabic and Mandarin Speakers

Alaa Al-Maani; Shayne Sloggett; Nino Grillo; Heather Marsden

doi:10.1017/S027226312400007X

Testing for Proficiency Effects and Crosslinguistic Influence in L2 Processing: Filler-Gap Dependencies in L2 English by Jordanian-Arabic and Mandarin Speakers

Alaa Al-Maani, Shayne Sloggett, Nino Grillo, Heather Marsden

Language and Linguistic Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study expands on previous research into filler-gap dependency processing in second language (L2) English, by means of a replication of Canales’s (2012) self-paced reading study. Canales, among others, found that advanced L2-English speakers exhibited the same processing behaviour that Stowe (1986) found for native English processing: on encountering a filler, they posited gaps in licensed positions and avoided positing gaps in grammatically unlicensed island positions. However, the previous L2 studies focused on advanced-level L2 proficiency and did not test specifically for first language (L1) influence. The present study compares two groups of intermediate-level L2-English speakers with contrasting non-wh-movement L1s, Jordanian Arabic and Mandarin, to investigate the effects of L1 influence and individual differences in proficiency. Our results provide evidence that at intermediate level, too, L2 filler-gap processing adheres to grammatical constraints. L1 did not affect this behaviour, but proficiency effects emerged, with larger licensed filled-gap effects at higher proficiency.

Original language	English
Number of pages	17
Journal	Studies in Second Language Acquisition
Early online date	25 Mar 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S027226312400007X
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 25 Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

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10.1017/S027226312400007XLicence: CC BY

Testing for proficiency effects and crosslinguistic influence in L2 processing: filler-gap dependencies in L2 English by Jordanian-Arabic and Mandarin speakers
© The Author(s), 2024
Final published version, 413 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Testing for Proficiency Effects and Crosslinguistic Influence in L2 Processing: Filler-Gap Dependencies in L2 English by Jordanian-Arabic and Mandarin Speakers",

abstract = "This study expands on previous research into filler-gap dependency processing in second language (L2) English, by means of a replication of Canales{\textquoteright}s (2012) self-paced reading study. Canales, among others, found that advanced L2-English speakers exhibited the same processing behaviour that Stowe (1986) found for native English processing: on encountering a filler, they posited gaps in licensed positions and avoided positing gaps in grammatically unlicensed island positions. However, the previous L2 studies focused on advanced-level L2 proficiency and did not test specifically for first language (L1) influence. The present study compares two groups of intermediate-level L2-English speakers with contrasting non-wh-movement L1s, Jordanian Arabic and Mandarin, to investigate the effects of L1 influence and individual differences in proficiency. Our results provide evidence that at intermediate level, too, L2 filler-gap processing adheres to grammatical constraints. L1 did not affect this behaviour, but proficiency effects emerged, with larger licensed filled-gap effects at higher proficiency.",

author = "Alaa Al-Maani and Shayne Sloggett and Nino Grillo and Heather Marsden",

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AU - Grillo, Nino

AU - Marsden, Heather

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N2 - This study expands on previous research into filler-gap dependency processing in second language (L2) English, by means of a replication of Canales’s (2012) self-paced reading study. Canales, among others, found that advanced L2-English speakers exhibited the same processing behaviour that Stowe (1986) found for native English processing: on encountering a filler, they posited gaps in licensed positions and avoided positing gaps in grammatically unlicensed island positions. However, the previous L2 studies focused on advanced-level L2 proficiency and did not test specifically for first language (L1) influence. The present study compares two groups of intermediate-level L2-English speakers with contrasting non-wh-movement L1s, Jordanian Arabic and Mandarin, to investigate the effects of L1 influence and individual differences in proficiency. Our results provide evidence that at intermediate level, too, L2 filler-gap processing adheres to grammatical constraints. L1 did not affect this behaviour, but proficiency effects emerged, with larger licensed filled-gap effects at higher proficiency.

AB - This study expands on previous research into filler-gap dependency processing in second language (L2) English, by means of a replication of Canales’s (2012) self-paced reading study. Canales, among others, found that advanced L2-English speakers exhibited the same processing behaviour that Stowe (1986) found for native English processing: on encountering a filler, they posited gaps in licensed positions and avoided positing gaps in grammatically unlicensed island positions. However, the previous L2 studies focused on advanced-level L2 proficiency and did not test specifically for first language (L1) influence. The present study compares two groups of intermediate-level L2-English speakers with contrasting non-wh-movement L1s, Jordanian Arabic and Mandarin, to investigate the effects of L1 influence and individual differences in proficiency. Our results provide evidence that at intermediate level, too, L2 filler-gap processing adheres to grammatical constraints. L1 did not affect this behaviour, but proficiency effects emerged, with larger licensed filled-gap effects at higher proficiency.

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