1 Sentence Processing in Learners of Mandarin as a Second Language Jerry Packard University of...

Post on 28-Dec-2015

221 views 0 download

Tags:

transcript

1

Sentence Processing in Learners of Mandarin as a Second Language

Jerry Packard

University of Illinois

Chinese LEARN Conference

Defense Language InstituteMonterey, California

7/22/10

2

“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”

There are two theories that address this question

One theory says that our students knowledge of the L2 grammar is incomplete … their knowledge of grammar is not ‘deep’ enough … their grammar knowledge is too ‘shallow’

Another theory says that our students don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’, that is, not enough memory dedicated to the second language

3

• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’

• theory 2 – they don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’

“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”

4

• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’

what would that look like…?

“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”

5

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

…???… shei zhuile gou …???

6

Zhangsan

张三

7

Zhangsan xihuan

张三喜欢

8

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi

张三喜欢李四

9

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui

张三喜欢李四追

10

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de

张三喜欢李四追的

11

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

12

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

…???… shei zhuile gou …???

13

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

…???… shei zhuile gou …???

Answer must be extracted from complex structure..!!

14

• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’

• theory 2 – they don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’

what would that look like…?

“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”

15

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

…???… shei xihuan gou …???

16

Zhangsan

张三

17

Zhangsan xihuan

张三喜欢

18

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi

张三喜欢李四

19

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui

张三喜欢李四追

20

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de

张三喜欢李四追的

21

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

22

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

…???… shei xihuan gou …???

23

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

…???… shei xihuan gou …???

Answer must be kept in memory till end of sentence..!!

24

• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’

can’t do complex structures !

• theory 2 – they don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’

can’t remember beginning of sentence !

“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”

25

So, I examined processing of sentences in native and L2 Chinese speakers …

• to compare how they process information at the front and back of utterances (memory), and…

• to compare how they process information in complex structures (depth)

26

My previous work had compared subject and object gap processing in relative clauses in L1 and L2 Chinese speakers…

27

Object gap

28

Zhangsan

张三

Object gap

29

Zhangsan xihuan

张三喜欢

Object gap

30

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi

张三喜欢李四

Object gap

31

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui

张三喜欢李四追

Object gap

32

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de

张三喜欢李四追的

Object gap

33

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

34

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

Subject gap

35

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

Subject gap

Zhangsan xihuan

张三喜欢

36

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

Subject gap

Zhangsan xihuan zhui

张三喜欢追

37

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

Subject gap

Zhangsan xihuan zhui Lisi

张三喜欢追李四

38

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

Subject gap

Zhangsan xihuan zhui Lisi de

张三喜欢追李四的

39

Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou

张三喜欢李四追的狗

Object gap

Subject gap

Zhangsan xihuan zhui Lisi de

张三喜欢追李四的狗

40

My previous work had compared subject and object gap relative clause processing in L1 and L2 Chinese speakers…

Result: Mandarin native speakers and Mandarin L2 learners both process subject-gap relative clauses more slowly than object-gap relative clauses

41

Gap processing speed, L1 vs L2re

spon

se t

ime

Chinese L1 Chinese L2

subject group

Subject GapObject Gap

42

So, I examined those data to look for processing speed differences at the end and beginning of utterances (memory) and in complex structures (depth)

43

Relative Clauses

relative clause as matrix object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o

relative clause as matrix subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o

relative clause as matrix object

relative clause as matrix subject

A relative clause in Chinese can be either the subject or the object of the matrix sentence

44

Relative Clauses

relative clause as matrix object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o

relative clause as matrix subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o

relative clause in back

relative clause up front

When you move the relative clause like that, it moves closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence

45

Relative Clauses

relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o

relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o

main verb up front

main verb in back

When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence

46

Relative Clauses

relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o

relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o

de in back

de in front

When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence

47

Relative Clauses

relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o

relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o

relative clause head in back

relative clause head in front

When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence

48

Relative Clauses

relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o

relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o

matrix SVO in front

matrix SVO in back

When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence

49

1. Do Mandarin speakers process sentences faster at the beginning, or the end?

2. Do Mandarin speakers process complex structure faster at the beginning or end of the sentence?

3. Do L1 and L2 Mandarin speakers differ in 1 or 2 above?

Questions of interest:

50

MethodTask:

• Computerized self-paced sentence reading task, with words elicited by subject keypress

(= ‘moving window’)

• Reaction time recorded for each word at keypress

• Each word’s response time is an indicator of its processing load

• Stimulus sentence followed by a simple probe statement about content of stimulus sentence

• Subjects press ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in response to the probe statement

51

Example of stimulus sentence, followed by probe statement,

follows………

52

Ready…..

53

张三

54

喜欢

55

李四

56

57

58

59

那条狗追了张三 (yes/no)

( “that dog chased Zhangsan” )

60

If a subject picks the wrong ‘yes/no’ response, the data for that sentence

are discarded

61

Subjects (2 groups):

• 41 native (L1) speakers of Mandarin

• 14 speakers of Mandarin as L2

• second- or third-year student level

• all paid participants

• all at least two years of college

• all between age 18 and 35

62

Stimuli:

• (for each subject group) 12 exemplars each of relative clause in matrix subject and object position = 24 experimental sentences

• 24 control sentences of varied length and structure

• 48 total stimulus sentences randomly presented via DMDX (J. Forster and K. Forster, U of

Arizona)

• ½ of 48 probe sentences ‘true’, ½ ‘false’

63

Data Analysis

• Response times for individual words were replaced if:

• response time is less than 100 msec

• response time is more than 2.5 standard deviations above the group mean for that word type within sentence type

• These ‘outlier’ responses were replaced with that subject’s mean response time for that word type within sentence type

64

Data Analysis (cont.)

ANOVAs –

• dependent variable –

response time

• independent variables –

sentence part (main verb, head, de, etc.)

position within matrix sentence (front, back)

65

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369

back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

66

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369

back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

67

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

68

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

69

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

70

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

71

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

72

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

73

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

74

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

75

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

76

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

77

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

78

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369

back 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

79

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 1478

back 1329

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

80

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 1478 380

back 1329 427

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

81

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 1478 380 1732

back 1329 427 1598

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

82

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 1478 380 1732 345

back 1329 427 1598 362

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

83

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 1478 380 1732 345 467

back 1329 427 1598 362 533

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

84

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

631 380 380 389 362 467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

636 382 345 369 427 533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 1478 380 1732 345 467 369

back 1329 427 1598 362 533 467

Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)

85

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

467

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

533

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 369back 467

Results: Mandarin (in milliseconds)L2 Speakers

86

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 4206

back 4972

Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)

87

Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 4206 1165

back 4972 1375

88

Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 4206 1165 5803

back 4972 1375 6193

89

Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 4206 1165 5803 766

back 4972 1375 6193 848

90

Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 4206 1165 5803 766 1696

back 4972 1375 6193 848 1567

91

Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)

张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O

1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696

李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O

1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567

Matrix

Sen

Matrix

Verb

RelativeClause

de Matrix

Object

head

front 4206 1165 5803 766 1696 2029

back 4972 1375 6193 848 1567 1696

92

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc

Matrx SV

Matrx Verb

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc

Matrx SV

Matrx Verb

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

93

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV

Matrx Verb

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV

Matrx Verb

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

94

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

95

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

96

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

97

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb

de

Matrx Object

head

98

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de

Matrx Object

head

99

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de 766 848

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de 345 362

Matrx Object

head

100

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de 766 848

Matrx Object

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de 345 362

Matrx Object

head

101

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de 766 848

Matrx Object 1696 1567

head

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de 345 362

Matrx Object 467 533

head

102

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de 766 848

Matrx Object 1696 1567

head 2029 1696

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de 345 362

Matrx Object 467 533

head 369 467

103

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de 766 848

Matrx Object 1696 1567

head 2029 1696

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de 345 362

Matrx Object 467 533

head 369 467

104

Everything else is slow in back for L2…..

Why are matrix object and relative clause head fast in back for L2?

105

L2 Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 4206 4972

Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942

Matrx SV 2510 3404

Matrx Verb 1165 1375

Relative Clause 5803 6193

RC Arg Struc 3006 3647

RC verb 1669 2138

de 766 848

Matrx Object 1696 1567

head 2029 1696

red = slow

Native Chinese Speakers

front back

Matrix SVO 1478 1329

Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960

Matrx SV 1011 796

Matrx Verb 380 427

Relative Clause 1732 1598

RC Arg Struc 1018 769

RC verb 523 383

de 345 362

Matrx Object 467 533

head 369 467????

106

Matrix Object faster in back because SV and O are adjacent/local, not interrupted/distant

= memory

Q: Why are matrix object and relative clause head fast in back for L2?

H0: L2 limits in both memory and structure!

107

s v o v rel cl

s v o v rel cl

Matrix Object faster in back because SV and O are adjacent/local, not interrupted/distant

= memory

O is separated from SV by relcl, therefore

O is slow

O is adjacent to SV, therefore

O is fast

108

Matrix Object faster in back because SV and O are adjacent/local, not interrupted/distant

= memory

Relative clause head faster in back because head is not fully processed -

L2 speakers quickly integrate ‘shallow’ matrix object = shallow structure

Q: Why are matrix object and relative clause head fast in back for L2?

H0: L2 limits in both memory and structure!

109

s v o v rel cl

s v o v rel cl

Relative clause head faster in back because head is not fully processed -

L2 speakers quickly integrate shallow matrix object = shallow structure

Head in back Head up front

110

s v o v rel cl

s v o v rel cl

Relative clause head faster in back because head is not fully processed -

L2 speakers quickly integrate shallow matrix object = shallow structure

Head is not fully processed, therefore

response is fast

Head is fully processed, therefore

response is slow

111

L2 Mandarin speakers satisfy the relative clause verb selectional restrictions first (= local), then satisfy the matrix verb selectional restrictions

Native Mandarin speakers, in contrast, satisfy thematrix verb selectional restrictions first (= global), then satisfy the relative clause verb selectional restrictions

Hypothesis: because the L2 speakers are processing locally (embedded sentence) rather than globally (matrix sentence)

Q: Why is the head not fully processed in L2 speakers?

112

When processing complex sentences, native Mandarin speakers satisfy matrix verb selectional restrictions first (= global), and then satisfy relative clause verb selectional restrictions (= local)

113

satisfy this verb selectionalrestriction first then satisfy this verb

selectional restriction

Native Mandarin Speakers

114

In other words, in gap-filler processing, when processing complex sentences, native Mandarin speakers fill matrix verb gaps first (= global), and then fill relative clause verb gaps (= local)

115

fill this verb gap first(w/ de) then fill this verb gap

(w/ gou)

Native Mandarin Speakers

116

In contrast, L2 Mandarin speakers fill embedded verb gaps first (= local), and then fill relative clause verb gaps (= global)

117

then fill this verb gap(w/ gou) fill this verb gap first

(w/ de)

L2 Mandarin Speakers

118

Native Mandarin Speakers

start looking for matrix verb

119

start looking for object of xihuan

Native Mandarin Speakers

120object of xihuan found…?

Native Mandarin Speakers

121

object of xihuan not found

Native Mandarin Speakers

122

object of xihuan not found continue looking for object of xihuan

Native Mandarin Speakers

123

matrix object NP not found continue looking for matrix object NPstart looking for object of zhui

Native Mandarin Speakers

124

object of xihuan found!

Native Mandarin Speakers

125

object of zhui found!

Native Mandarin Speakers

126

Data from the present study suggest that L2 Mandarin speakers fill relative clause verb gaps first (= local), and then fill matrix verb gaps (= global)

127

L2 Mandarin Speakers

start looking for matrix verb

128

start looking for object of xihuan

L2 Mandarin Speakers

129object of xihuan found…?

L2 Mandarin Speakers

130

object of xihuan not found

L2 Mandarin Speakers

131

object of xihuan not found continue looking for object of xihuan

L2 Mandarin Speakers

132

object of xihuan not found continue looking for object of xihuan start looking for object of zhui

L2 Mandarin Speakers

133

object of zhui found!

L2 Mandarin Speakers

(local vs. global)

(different from native speakers)

134

object of xihuan found!

L2 Mandarin Speakers

(different from native speakers)

Fast!

135

Evidence that native Mandarin speakers fill matrix verb gaps first :

ERP studies of relative clause processing in native Mandarin speakers

Packard, Ye & Zhou (2010). 'Filler-gap processing in Mandarin relative clauses: Evidence from Event-

Related Potentials'.

136

F3-SS-F3-OS-

F3-SO-F3-OO-

S

-3.00 -2.50 -2.00 -1.50 -1.00 -0.50 0.00 0.50 1.00

-

+

Red = subject-gap Blue = object-gap

Ø like Lisi de dog hased Zhangsan Lisi like Ø

Relative clauses in matrix subject position

P600 effect on relative marker de

137

F3-F3-

S

-3.00 -2.50 -2.00 -1.50 -1.00 -0.50 0.00 0.50 1.00

-

+

Red = subject-gap Blue = object-gap

Zhangsan like Ø chase Lisi de dog Lisi chase Ø

P600 effect on relative clause head

Relative clauses in matrix object position

138

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

139

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

说一词 , 加一词 - ( 加在后 )

give student ‘new’ word

student adds new word to the end

student must hold ‘new’ word in memory until ‘old’ words are spoken

140

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

141

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

142

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

143

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

144

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生

145

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

146

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

147

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

148

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

149

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

在 ‘那个学生坐在’

150

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

在 ‘那个学生坐在’

椅子

151

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

在 ‘那个学生坐在’

椅子 ‘那个学生坐在椅子’

152

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

在 ‘那个学生坐在’

椅子 ‘那个学生坐在椅子’

153

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

那 ‘那’

个 ‘那个’

学生 ‘那个学生’

坐 ‘那个学生坐’

在 ‘那个学生坐在’

椅子 ‘那个学生坐在椅子’

上 ‘那个学生坐在椅子上’

154

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

说一词 , 加一词 - (加在前 )

give student ‘new’ word

student adds new word to the beginning

student immediately speaks ‘new’ word, followed by all ‘old’ words held in memory

155

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

156

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

157

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子

158

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

159

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

160

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

161

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

162

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

坐 ‘坐在椅子上’

163

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

坐 ‘坐在椅子上’

学生

164

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

坐 ‘坐在椅子上’

学生 ‘学生坐在椅子上’

165

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

坐 ‘坐在椅子上’

学生 ‘学生坐在椅子上’

那个

166

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingMEMORY

上 ‘上’

椅子 ‘椅子上’

在 ‘在椅子上’

坐 ‘坐在椅子上’

学生 ‘学生坐在椅子上’

那个 ‘那个学生坐在椅子上’

167

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

 

168

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三喜欢李四追的狗 

169

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三喜欢李四追的狗 张三追了狗吗 ?

170

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

李四追了张三喜欢的狗

 

171

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

李四追了张三喜欢的狗

 

张三追了狗吗 ?

172

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三追了狗咬到的猫

 

173

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三追了狗咬到的猫

 

张三追了狗吗 ?

174

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三追了被狗咬到的猫

 

175

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三追了被狗咬到的猫

 

张三追了狗吗 ?

176

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三追了把猫咬到的狗

177

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

张三追了把猫咬到的狗猫咬了狗吗 ?

178

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

那只猫追的三只狗都是黑的

 

179

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

 

有几只猫 ?

180

Activities to improve L2 memory and

complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE

“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content

那只猫追的三只狗都是黑的

有几只猫 ? 

181

L1: global

L2: adjacent

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

182

L1: global

L2: adjacent

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

183

L1: global

L2: local

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

184

L1: global deep

L2: local

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

185

L1: global deep

L2: local shallow

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

186

L1: global deep non-linear

L2: local shallow

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

187

L1: global deep non-linear

L2: local shallow linear

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

188

L1: global deep non-linear distant

L2: local shallow linear

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

189

L1: global deep non-linear distant

L2: local shallow linear adjacent

L1 and L2 Processing Summary

190

Conclude

• memory and structure may both be difficult for L2 learners of Mandarin

• activities can be designed to improve L2 memory and complex structure processing

191

Thanks to… 

Hiroko Yamashita Kevin MillerFred DavidsonSusanne ArefLiwei Gao

Hang Zhang Zhijun Wang

Hee-Kyung Lee James Yoon

Susan Garnsey Fuyun Wu

UIUC Research Board

192

Thank you!