Word Knowledge in L2 Chinese Lexical Inference: A Moderated Path Analysis of Language Proficiency Level and Heritage...

Area of Science:

• Second Language Acquisition
• Applied Linguistics
• Psycholinguistics

Background:

• Lexical inference is crucial for L2 reading comprehension.
• Understanding the role of different word knowledge types is essential.
• Learner background, including heritage status, may influence L2 learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of word-general and word-specific knowledge on L2 Chinese lexical inference.
• To examine the moderating effects of language proficiency and heritage status.
• To identify distinct patterns in lexical inference for heritage and non-heritage learners.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a moderated path model analysis.
• Assessed L2 Chinese learners (heritage and non-heritage) with varying proficiency levels.
• Employed word knowledge measurements and a lexical inferencing task.

Main Results:

• Both word-general knowledge (morphological awareness) and word-specific knowledge (vocabulary knowledge) positively influenced L2 Chinese lexical inference.
• Heritage status significantly moderated the relationship between word knowledge and lexical inference.
• Distinct patterns of lexical inference were observed between heritage and non-heritage L2 Chinese learners.

Conclusions:

• Morphological awareness is a key factor in L2 Chinese lexical inference, particularly for heritage learners.
• Heritage status plays a critical role in shaping the L2 lexical inference process.
• Findings suggest tailored pedagogical approaches based on learner heritage and proficiency are beneficial.