Chapter 8. Task effects in second language sentence processing research

Michael J. Leeser | Florida State University

Anel Brandl | Florida State University

Christine Weissglass | Florida State University

This chapter explores the ways in which secondary tasks utilized in on-line sentence processing experiments can influence second language (L2) learners’ processing behavior. After a brief introduction to sentence processing and the self-paced reading methodology, we present data from a self-paced reading study that investigates how task type (comprehension questions vs. grammaticality judgment tasks) affect intermediate L2 Spanish learners processing of two types of grammatical violations: noun-adjective gender agreement and subject-verb inversion in wh-questions. Our findings suggest that, for some structures, certain secondary tasks commonly used in sentence processing research can indeed influence how L2 learners’ process morpho-syntactic violations during comprehension. We discuss the implications of our findings for L2 learning research, as well as for L2 instruction.

Published online: 24 March 2011
https://doi.org/10.1075/lllt.30.13lee

Cited by

Cited by 12 other publications

Godfroid, Aline, Shawn Loewen, Sehoon Jung, Ji-Hyun Park, Susan Gass & Rod Ellis

2015. TIMED AND UNTIMED GRAMMATICALITY JUDGMENTS MEASURE DISTINCT TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 37:2 ► pp. 269 ff.

Jegerski, Jill

2015. The processing of case in near-native Spanish. Second Language Research 31:3 ► pp. 281 ff.

Jegerski, Jill

2016. NUMBER ATTRACTION EFFECTS IN NEAR-NATIVE SPANISH SENTENCE COMPREHENSION. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 38:1 ► pp. 5 ff.

Keating, Gregory D. & Jill Jegerski

2015. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS IN SENTENCE PROCESSING RESEARCH. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 37:1 ► pp. 1 ff.

Lim, Jung Hyun & Kiel Christianson

2013. Integrating meaning and structure in L1–L2 and L2–L1 translations. Second Language Research 29:3 ► pp. 233 ff.

LIM, JUNG HYUN & KIEL CHRISTIANSON

2013. Second language sentence processing in reading for comprehension and translation. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 16:3 ► pp. 518 ff.

LIM, JUNG HYUN & KIEL CHRISTIANSON

2015. Second language sensitivity to agreement errors: Evidence from eye movements during comprehension and translation. Applied Psycholinguistics 36:6 ► pp. 1283 ff.

Lobben, Marit & Stefania D’Ascenzo

2015. Grounding grammatical categories: attention bias in hand space influences grammatical congruency judgment of Chinese nominal classifiers. Frontiers in Psychology 6

PERPIÑÁN, SILVIA

2015. L2 Grammar and L2 Processing in the Acquisition of Spanish Prepositional Relative Clauses. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 18:4 ► pp. 577 ff.

Rossi, Eleonora, Michele Diaz, Judith F. Kroll & Paola E. Dussias

2017. Late Bilinguals Are Sensitive to Unique Aspects of Second Language Processing: Evidence from Clitic Pronouns Word-Order. Frontiers in Psychology 8

Tan, Maryann & Anouschka Foltz

2020. Task Sensitivity in L2 English Speakers’ Syntactic Processing: Evidence for Good-Enough Processing in Self-Paced Reading. Frontiers in Psychology 11

VanPatten, Bill & Megan Smith

2015. APTITUDE AS GRAMMATICAL SENSITIVITY AND THE INITIAL STAGES OF LEARNING JAPANESE AS A L2. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 37:1 ► pp. 135 ff.

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 01 april 2021. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.