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Found in translation : the influence of the L1 on the reading of idioms in a L2

Carrol, Gareth ; Conklin, Kathryn and Gyllstad, Henrik LU (2016) In Studies in Second Language Acquisition 38(3). p.403-443
Abstract
Formulaic language represents a challenge to even the most proficient of language learners. Evidence is mixed as to whether native and non-native speakers process it in a fundamentally different way, whether exposure can lead to more nativelike processing for non-natives, and how L1 knowledge is used to aid comprehension. In this study we investigate how advanced non-native speakers process idioms encountered in their L2. We use eye-tracking to see

whether a highly proficient group of L1 Swedes show any evidence of formulaic processing for English idioms. We also compare translations of Swedish idioms and congruent idioms (items that exist in both languages) to see how L1 knowledge is utilised during online

processing.... (More)
Formulaic language represents a challenge to even the most proficient of language learners. Evidence is mixed as to whether native and non-native speakers process it in a fundamentally different way, whether exposure can lead to more nativelike processing for non-natives, and how L1 knowledge is used to aid comprehension. In this study we investigate how advanced non-native speakers process idioms encountered in their L2. We use eye-tracking to see

whether a highly proficient group of L1 Swedes show any evidence of formulaic processing for English idioms. We also compare translations of Swedish idioms and congruent idioms (items that exist in both languages) to see how L1 knowledge is utilised during online

processing. Results support the view that L1 knowledge is automatically used from the earliest stages of processing, regardless of whether sequences are congruent, and that exposure and advanced proficiency can lead to nativelike formulaic processing in the L2. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Idioms, formulaic language, L1 influence, language transfer, eye-tracking, high proficiency bilinguals
in
Studies in Second Language Acquisition
volume
38
issue
3
pages
403 - 443
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:84954555654
  • wos:000382989600002
ISSN
1470-1545
DOI
10.1017/S0272263115000492
project
Phraseological Processing and Representation in a Second Language
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
571a69c6-f8f8-4a68-9abc-c25243ff6d8f (old id 8228666)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:19:08
date last changed
2022-04-21 20:57:35
@article{571a69c6-f8f8-4a68-9abc-c25243ff6d8f,
  abstract     = {{Formulaic language represents a challenge to even the most proficient of language learners. Evidence is mixed as to whether native and non-native speakers process it in a fundamentally different way, whether exposure can lead to more nativelike processing for non-natives, and how L1 knowledge is used to aid comprehension. In this study we investigate how advanced non-native speakers process idioms encountered in their L2. We use eye-tracking to see<br/><br>
whether a highly proficient group of L1 Swedes show any evidence of formulaic processing for English idioms. We also compare translations of Swedish idioms and congruent idioms (items that exist in both languages) to see how L1 knowledge is utilised during online<br/><br>
processing. Results support the view that L1 knowledge is automatically used from the earliest stages of processing, regardless of whether sequences are congruent, and that exposure and advanced proficiency can lead to nativelike formulaic processing in the L2.}},
  author       = {{Carrol, Gareth and Conklin, Kathryn and Gyllstad, Henrik}},
  issn         = {{1470-1545}},
  keywords     = {{Idioms; formulaic language; L1 influence; language transfer; eye-tracking; high proficiency bilinguals}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{403--443}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Studies in Second Language Acquisition}},
  title        = {{Found in translation : the influence of the L1 on the reading of idioms in a L2}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0272263115000492}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S0272263115000492}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}