Investigating second language listener processing of different formula types

Abstract

This paper investigated the theory, based on research by Ellis, Simpson-Vlach and Maynard (2008), that proficient L2 listeners would better process language formulas which have greater coherence (or unity), while less proficient listeners would better process higher frequency formulas. Processing more coherent formulas can help the listener in terms of being able to predict what words come next in a text. Consequently, if the research found that proficient listeners did have the advantage of efficiently processing coherent formulas, instructors could teach less proficient listeners such formulas to perhaps improve their listening abilities. The study used a paused transcription technique to elicit listeners’ understanding of words in the texts, and used corpus data to distinguish whether formulas in the text had higher coherence or frequency. Contrary to the theory being examined, the study did not find that the proficient listeners processed coherent formulas any better than the less proficient listeners. The research method used, however, did appear fruitful, and with larger sample sizes could be usefully adopted for further research of this theory.