A Study of the Processing Advantage of Formulaic Sequences and Its Influencing Factors in Second Language Cognition
LI Li-jua · Journal of South China Normal University · 2013
The present study aimed to examine the processing advantage effect of formulaic sequences for Chinese second language learners of English and to investigate how factors such as English language proficiency,semantic transparency and familiarity affect their processing.Two experiments were carried out,one by context-free on-line grammaticality judgment task,and the other by contextual line-by-line self-paced reading task.It is found that formulaic sequences are responded to significantly faster than nonformulaic counterparts,thereby providing evidence in support of the holistic processing advantage of formulaic sequences.Additionally,different L2 language proficiency does affect the processing time and accuracy rate in grammaticality judgment and the understanding of formulaic sequences.Semantic transparency of formulaic sequences affects the processing in that formulaic sequences with high semantic transparency are processed faster and more accurately than those with low transparency.L2 learners' familiarity with formulaic sequences also affects the processing in that formulaic sequences of high familiarity are processed at faster speed and with fewer errors than those of low familiarity.