Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2025
08:32
Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
Published on: September 5, 2019
5.6K
The Role of Referential Context in EFL Learners' Relative Clause Ambiguity Resolution: Modulating Effect of Working
Danning Sun1,2, Zihan Chen3, Shanhua Zhu4
1School of Foreign Languages, Southeast University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
|February 26, 2025
Summary
Proficient Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) use high-attachment parsing initially. Referential context aids processing, and working memory capacity (WMC) influences ambiguity resolution strategies in second language acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Second Language Acquisition
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Ambiguity resolution in second language (L2) processing is complex.
- Understanding the role of referential context and working memory capacity (WMC) is crucial for L2 learners.
- Proficient Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) provide a valuable case study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the referential context effect on L2 relative clause ambiguity resolution.
- To investigate the influence of working memory capacity (WMC) on this process.
- To identify parsing strategies employed by Chinese EFL learners.
Main Methods:
- A self-paced reading study with two phases.
- Baseline phase: assessing initial attachment preference without context.
- Experimental phases: using neutral and NP-biasing referential contexts.
- Measuring reaction times and comprehension accuracy.
Main Results:
- Learners initially used a high-attachment parsing strategy without context.
- Referential context improved sentence processing and comprehension (decreased reaction times).
- Working memory capacity modulated ambiguity resolution, with higher WMC aiding context-dependent processing.
Conclusions:
- Referential context significantly impacts L2 ambiguity resolution for proficient Chinese EFL learners.
- Working memory capacity plays a key role in modulating parsing strategies.
- Findings contribute to understanding L2 shallow processing and cognitive constraints in L2 ambiguity resolution.
Keywords:
Chinese EFL learnersReferential contextRelative clause ambiguity resolutionWorking memory capacityMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
117
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
117
01:27Language and Cognition
314
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
314
01:12Chunking
51
Chunking is a powerful cognitive technique that improves short-term memory retention by organizing information into smaller, more manageable units. The brain, limited by working memory capacity, can more easily process and store information when it is divided into "chunks" rather than presented as discrete, unrelated elements. Chunking is especially useful when dealing with large amounts of information, such as numerical sequences, words, or complex ideas.
The principle behind chunking...
The principle behind chunking...
51
01:07Elaborative Rehearsals
76
Elaborative rehearsal is a crucial cognitive strategy that strengthens information encoding in long-term memory by making meaningful connections between new data and pre-existing knowledge. This approach contrasts with maintenance rehearsal, which involves simple repetition without delving into the significance of the information. While maintenance rehearsal might temporarily keep information active in short-term memory, it is less effective for long-term retention.
The effectiveness of...
The effectiveness of...
76
01:16Interference and Decay
102
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
102
01:22Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory
133
Improving short-term memory can be achieved through techniques like chunking and rehearsal. Chunking involves organizing information into larger, more manageable units. This technique is particularly useful for information that exceeds the typical memory span of between five and nine items. For instance, logging into an online account with a password like "ta89vq0179gz" involves grouping letters and numbers into three chunks—ta89, vq01, and 79gz. It makes large amounts of...
133