Latency-based measures
Roumyana Slabakova, Tania Leal, Laura Domínguez · 2024
At the heart of this chapter is the discussion of several latency-based methods used in generative second language acquisition studies, particularly focusing on sentence processing. In this chapter, we describe three primary methods: self-paced reading, self-paced listening, and cross-modal priming. These methods are valued for their ability to capture incremental language processing and tap into more implicit cognitive processes in real time. We argue that these methods help in understanding how various linguistic (and extralinguistic) information types are integrated during comprehension while exploring extant debates in the field, such as the timing and importance of syntactic information in sentence processing. Additionally, we explore the influence of a learner’s first language on second language processing and discuss methodological considerations in designing and interpreting latency-based experiments. Overall, this chapter illustrates how these methods can test hypotheses about the nature of bilingual language processing and acquisition.