Exploring psycholinguistic reality of local grammar patterns: a case study of health metaphor in research articles of economics
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Lei Zhang
Abstract
In corpus linguistics, local grammar has been recognized as an effective approach to describing the semantic patterns of language for a particular communicative function/meaning. However, no study has yet examined whether the semantic patterns (i.e. local grammar patterns) produced by local grammar analyses are psychologically real for language learners. To assess the psycholinguistic reality of local grammar patterns, it is reasonable to start with testing whether such patterns can affect language learners’ processing of their corresponding language instances. This study used an eye movement experiment to test whether the local grammar patterns of a particular type of metaphorical expressions (i.e. health metaphor) in research articles of economics can influence Chinese EFL learners’ perception and comprehension of these expressions. The results showed that the occurrence of particular meanings and the positioning of the meanings in the patterns significantly affected the learners’ processing. These findings provide evidence for the psycholinguistic reality of local grammar patterns. The study also provides theoretical implications for local grammar research and metaphor research and pedagogical implications for metaphor teaching.
Funding source: The University Scientific Research Project of Anhui Province
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2023AH050207
Funding source: Anhui Provincial Department of Education
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2024dzxkc041
Funding source: Anhui Provincial Department of Education
Award Identifier / Grant number: 2023jyxm0380
Funding source: The Social Science Planning Project of Anhui Province
Award Identifier / Grant number: AHSKQ2021D185
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study, or their legal guardians or wards.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: None declared.
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Research funding: This work was supported by The University Scientific Research Project of Anhui Province (2023AH050207), Anhui Provincial Department of Education (2024dzxkc041, 2023jyxm0380), and The Social Science Planning Project of Anhui Province (AHSKQ2021D185).
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Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.
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