ERIC Number: EJ992638
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-May
Pages: 33
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0019-042X
EISSN: N/A
Using Eye-Tracking to Study the On-Line Processing of Case-Marking Information among Intermediate L2 Learners of German
Jackson, Carrie N.; Dussias, Paola E.; Hristova, Adelina
International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching (IRAL), v50 n2 p101-133 May 2012
This study uses eye-tracking to examine the processing of case-marking information in ambiguous subject- and object-first wh-questions in German. The position of the lexical verb was also manipulated via verb tense to investigate whether verb location influences how intermediate L2 learners process L2 sentences. Results show that intermediate L2 German learners were sensitive to case-marking information, exhibiting longer processing times on subject-first than object-first sentences, regardless of verb location. German native speakers exhibited the opposite word order preference, with longer processing times on object-first than subject-first sentences, replicating previous findings. These results are discussed in light of current L2 processing research, highlighting how methodological constraints influence researchers' abilities to measure the on-line processing of morphosyntactic information among intermediate L2 learners.
Descriptors: Eye Movements, German, Language Processing, Verbs, Grammar, Second Language Learning, Native Speakers, Sentences, Word Order, Preferences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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