How the properties of a first language (Mandarin, Korean) influence the comprehension of sentences in a second language (English) was investigated in a series of self-paced reading time studies. Native Mandarinand Korean-speaking learners of English were compared with native English speakers on how they resolved a temporary ambiguity about the relationship between a verb and the noun following ...

despite the crucial role of introductory sections in argumentative academic writing, the effects of genre- based approaches to writing introductory paragraphs have not been much explored yet. the present study aimed to investigate whether the provision of genre knowledge through modeling and non-modeling could enhance learners’ ability in writing introductory paragraphs of argumentative essays....

This paper reports on a study of metaphor comprehension and production in a multi-lingual setting using a translation task. Subjects were asked to translate sentences to and from their native language (Turkish) and their second language (English). The proportion of metaphors transferred between the languages during translation was examined. The results do not support forward transfer between L1...

The present study investigates whether phonetic lessons enable improvement of adult L2 perception and whether 2) L2 perceptual learning in the classroom setting can be explained by the Second Language Linguistic Perception (L2LP) model (Escudero, 2005). Salento Italian (SI) listeners' initial state of perception of American English (AE) vowels was examined. SI listeners performed cross‐ languag...

In this study, three intensity metrics (ΔS.dB, VarcoS.dB and nPVI.dB) devised on the basis of the well-known durational metrics were tested on both L1 (English and Mandarin) and L2 (L2 English). The results suggested that they were effective in distinguishing “stress-timed” English from perceptually “syllable-timed” Mandarin and L2 English (by Mandarin speakers). These metrics break the impasse...

Even in languages that do not share script, bilinguals process cognates faster than matched noncognates in a range of tasks. The current research more fully explores what underpins the cognate 'advantage' in different script bilinguals (Japanese-English). To do this, instead of the more traditional binary cognate/noncognate distinction, the current study uses continuous measures of phonological...

According  to  a  basic  prediction  made  by  the  Revised  Hierarchical  Model  (RHM),  at  early  stages  of language  acquisition,  strong  L2-L1  lexical  links  are  formed.  RHM  predicts  that  these  links  weaken with  increasing  proficiency,  although  they  do  not  disappear  even  at  higher  levels  of  language development. To test this prediction, two groups of highly proficie...

This paper reports two experiments on the implicit learning of second language word stress rules and presents a methodological innovation. In both experiments L1 Cantonese L2 English participants practised pronouncing two-syllable Spanish words. Learning of a hidden stress regularity was measured by a judgment task. We assessed participants’ awareness of the stress rule by verbal reports, confi...