Home The Difference of Lemma Activation Between Native Speakers of English and L2 Speakers of English With L1 Chinese: Evidence From the Semantic and Phonological Priming Effects on L2 Speech Planning
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The Difference of Lemma Activation Between Native Speakers of English and L2 Speakers of English With L1 Chinese: Evidence From the Semantic and Phonological Priming Effects on L2 Speech Planning

  • Yi Ma

    Yi MA is a lecturer of English (applied linguistics) at Foshan University. His research efforts have focused on second language acquisition, psycholinguistic, second language production mechanism.

    and Mingyang Chen

    Mingyang CHEN is a lecturer at Department of Business English, School of Foreign Languages, Neusoft Institute Guangdong. Her research efforts have focused on English education, English for academic purpose, Second language acquisition.

Published/Copyright: February 18, 2022
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Abstract

This study examined the influence of semantic and phonological priming on L2 speech planning, as well as the difference between native and non-native speakers of English in terms of lemma activation. Two potential explanations for the contrast between the performance of L2 speakers and native controls were considered. The first of which was that L2 speakers’ phonological forms are activated before selection of syntactic frame occurred, whereas the reverse is true for native speakers. The second explanation posits that the organisation of the speech production procedure is fundamentally similar in native and L2 speakers, and the disparity in performance arises from difference in the levels of activation of stored items. The results of the present experiment suggest that lemma selection is indeed what drives syntactic frame selection. However, lemmas in L2 speakers can be primed through a chain of connections demonstrated as: L2 phonological form L1 phonological form L1 lemma.

About the authors

Yi Ma

Yi MA is a lecturer of English (applied linguistics) at Foshan University. His research efforts have focused on second language acquisition, psycholinguistic, second language production mechanism.

Mingyang Chen

Mingyang CHEN is a lecturer at Department of Business English, School of Foreign Languages, Neusoft Institute Guangdong. Her research efforts have focused on English education, English for academic purpose, Second language acquisition.

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Appendix: Full List of Testing Words and Filler Words in the Current Experiment

List 1

Filler words (n=20)Recognition words (n=24)
ToothValleyWheel
BasketTowelGlass
SpoonSkyscraperTrade
TeaRainbowTreat
SugarHospitalFork
MapFarmRoof
TicketNutHandle
HeartPotatoIsle
BathRiverMile
HeadPancakeTrap
EyeClockDot
HatSingerFist
CinemaTomatoFeather
SteelJewelEgg
BeanSkinFog
BeefTowerKitchen
HairTeamJungle
ScarfLoafForest
PipeCakeMat
ToyNewspaperBull
Letter
Frame
Theme
Roam

List 2

Filler words (n=20)Recognition words (n=24)
ToothValleyBrick
BasketTowelSand
SpoonSkyscraperBun
TeaRainbowWink
SugarHospitalButter
MapFarmWing
TicketNutCult
HeartPotatoSum
BathRiverFur
HeadPancakeDog
EyeClockMap
HatSingerShell
CinemaTomatoEarth
SteelJewelWool
BeanSkinDug
BeefTowerBoil
HairTeamBat
ScarfLoafCat
PipeCakeBind
ToyNewspaperBay-leaf
Suitcase
School
Purge
Dog-lead

List 3

Filler words (n=20)Recognition words (n=24)
ToothValleyCard
BasketTowelWinter
SpoonSkyscraperRail
TeaRainbowLeaf
SugarHospitalNight
MapFarmHowl
TicketNutNail
HeartPotatoWinter
BathRiverCount
HeadPancakeMount
EyeClockCat
HatSingerSwim
CinemaTomatoBurp
SteelJewelChildren
BeanSkinTail
BeefTowerMiaow
HairTeamMonday
ScarfLoafStink
PipeCakeWoman
ToyNewspaperPen
Poland
Pigeon
Mask
Ship

List 4

Filler words (n=20)Recognition words (n=24)
ToothValleyWalk
BasketTowelRod
SpoonSkyscraperPuncture
TeaRainbowBlow
SugarHospitalBreath
MapFarmPlate
TicketNutSaucer
HeartPotatoSky
BathRiverBelt
HeadPancakeCap
EyeClockWoman
HatSingerRestaurant
CinemaTomatoWork
SteelJewelSheet
BeanSkinQuack
BeefTowerGirl
HairTeamBoard
ScarfLoafDot
PipeCakeWheel
ToyNewspaperPram
Bat
Teashop
Coins
Nurse
Published Online: 2022-02-18
Published in Print: 2022-02-23

© 2022 FLTRP, Walter de Gruyter, Cultural and Education Section British Embassy

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