UF Language and Brain Interest: Dr. Theres Grüter, Thinking ahead in a second language: The role of prediction in L2 processing

Abstract: Trying to anticipate what will happen next is normal human behavior. The role of anticipation, or prediction, in language processing has been a topic of central interest and debate in psycholinguistics. Yet it is only relatively recently that this perspective has been extended to investigations of second language (L2) processing. I will review what we know so far about the role of prediction in L2 processing, and present findings from visual world eye-tracking studies in our lab that show differential use of potentially predictive cues by L1 and L2 users during real-time comprehension at the sentence and discourse level. I will argue that the observed L1-L2 differences do not reflect a lack of ability to engage in predictive processing in an L2, but differential utility of potentially predictive cues to successful processing outcomes in an L2 versus an L1.

This talk is open to UBC Language Sciences members. If you are interested in attending, please email alex.walls@ubc.ca for the access link.