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The missing-VP effect in readers of English as a second language
Stefan L Frank1, Patty Ernst2, Robin L Thompson3
1Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. s.frank@let.ru.nl.
Memory & Cognition
|April 17, 2021
Summary
Native Dutch speakers show the missing-verb phrase (VP) effect in English, but not their native language. This occurs due to both high English exposure and L2 reading difficulty.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Second Language Acquisition
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The missing-verb phrase (VP) effect is observed in native English speakers, where ungrammatical sentences with omitted verb phrases are read faster.
- This effect is absent in native German and Dutch speakers reading their respective languages but present when they read English as a second language (L2).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying reasons for the missing-VP effect in native Dutch speakers reading L2 English.
- To determine if the effect is driven by high exposure to English, leading to native-like processing (high exposure account), or by general L2 reading difficulties (low proficiency account).
Main Methods:
- An eye-tracking study was conducted comparing reading patterns of native Dutch and native English speakers.
- The size of the missing-VP effect was analyzed across native Dutch participants with varying levels of L2 English proficiency and exposure.
Main Results:
- Evidence was found supporting both the high exposure and low proficiency accounts.
- The magnitude of the missing-VP effect in L2 English reading was influenced by both the similarity of English knowledge to native speakers and the overall difficulty of L2 reading.
Conclusions:
- Both native-like knowledge of English and the challenges associated with L2 reading contribute to the missing-VP effect in native Dutch speakers.
- This suggests a complex interplay of linguistic knowledge and processing efficiency in second language reading.
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