Form and meaning in L1 and L2 lexical selection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36505/ExLing-2024/15/0033/000658Keywords:
L1-L2 lexical selection, phonological interference, rhyme, pragmaticsAbstract
The present study examines how competing phonological, pragmatic and morphosyntactic cues influence L1 and L2 lexical selection. We used a novel text completion task which involved rhyme priming; the aim was to activate a target rhyming completion which, if produced, would violate either pragmatic or morphosyntactic constraints. In a pilot study, we tested 41 L1 English speakers and 45 L1 Greek L2 English speakers. Results showed that morphosyntactic constraints pre-empted erroneous rhyming completions, whereas pragmatic constraints did not, especially in L1 speakers. L2 speakers were not as susceptible to errors caused by phonological interference, consistent with previous literature suggesting reduced reliance on form and preferential reliance on meaning in the L2.
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