Communicative value and linguistic knowledge in second language oral input processing
Bransdorfer, Rodney Lee
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/21441
Description
Title
Communicative value and linguistic knowledge in second language oral input processing
Author(s)
Bransdorfer, Rodney Lee
Issue Date
1991
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
VanPatten, Bill
Department of Study
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
Discipline
Spanish
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Language and Literature
Language, Linguistics
Language
eng
Abstract
This study investigated the roles of communicative value and linguistic knowledge in second language input processing. It was hypothesized that focus of attention on an element of low communicative value would negatively affect input processing for meaning while focus of attention on an element of high communicative value would not. It was further hypothesized that linguistic knowledge of an element of low communicative value would not relate to the processing of overall meaning or to the processing of that specific element at the discourse level or the sentence level. Finally, it was hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between processing an element of low communicative value at the discourse level and at the sentence level.
One hundred seventy-eight subjects completed a multiple choice grammar task to evaluate Linguistic Knowledge of estar, an on-line translation task to measure sentence level processing of estar, and a recall task to measure overall input processing and processing of estar at the discourse level. Subjects completed the recall task under one of three conditions: (1) listening for content only; (2) listening for content while simultaneously noting every occurrence of an element of low communicative value (the verb estar); (3) listening for content while simultaneously noting every occurrence of an element of high communicative value (the noun examenes).
Statistical analyses revealed significant main effects for Communicative Value and Linguistic Knowledge in overall discourse level processing. A significant main effect for Linguistic Knowledge was obtained for the recall of estar propositions in the discourse level task. A significant main effect was obtained for Linguistic Knowledge in the sentence level task. A significant correlation was found between the processing of estar at the discourse level and the sentence level.
The results revealed that subjects were affected by focus of attention in support of the communicative value hypothesis. Evidence was not found to support the hypotheses that linguistic knowledge would not relate to input processing. It is suggested that learners who demonstrate linguistic knowledge of an element of low communicative value may have greater L2 knowledge in general than those who do not demonstrate such knowledge.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
