Disfluencies in learner speech

Temple, Liz

doi:10.1075/aral.15.2.03tem

Article published In: Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 15:2 (1992) ► pp.29–44

Get fulltext from our e-platform

Download PDF

Disfluencies in learner speech

Liz Temple | University of New South Wales

Published online: 1 January 1992

https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.15.2.03tem

Abstract

Disfluent phenomena such as pauses, hesitations and repairs, are investigated in a corpus of forty-two short samples of spontaneous speech of native French speakers and learners of French. Significant quantitative differences between native speakers and learners were found and interpreted in the light of Bialystok’s and McLaughlin’s theories of language processing and the two key concepts of automaticity and control. A greater requirement of processing time on the part of the language learners was attributed to their greater use of controlled processes. An analysis of lexical and syntactic selection and repair was carried out to determine where control was applied. While native speakers were attending to the construction of the referent, learners were more concerned with syntactic construction.

References (14)

References

Bialystok, E. (1990) Communication strategies. A Psychological analysis of second-language use. Oxford, Blackwell.

Blanche-Benveniste, C. (1984) La denomination dans le franÇais parlé: une interprétation pour les ‘répétitions’ et les ‘hésitations’. Recherches sur le franÇais parlé 61:108–130.

Blanche-Blanche-Benveniste, C. (1990) Le franÇais parlé. Etudes grammaticales. Paris, Editions du C.N.R.S.

Chafe, W. (1980) Some reasons for hesitating. In H. Dechert and M. Raupach (eds) Temporal variables in speech. The Hague, Mouton.

Goldman Eisler, F. (1968) Psycholinguistics. Experiments in spontaneous speech. London, Academic Press.

Kowal, S. H., D. C. O’Connell and E. J, Sabin (1975) Development of temporal patterning and vocal hesitations in spontaneous narratives. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 41:195–207.

Lennon, P. (1984) Retelling a story in English as a second language. In H. Dechert, D. Mohle and M. Raupach (eds) Second language production. Tübingen, Gunter Narr.

(1989) Investigating fluency in EFL: A quantitative approach. Language Learning 40,3:387–417.

Levelt, W.J.M. (1990) Speaking. From intention to articulation. Cambridge Mass., MIT Press.

Loufrani, C. and M. N. Roubaud (1990) La notion d’approximation: Langage ordinaire, langage pathologique. Recherches sur le franÇais parlé 101:131–142.

McLaughlin, B. (1987) Theories of second language learning. London, Edward Arnold.

Sabin, E. J., E. J. Clemmer, D.C. O’Connell and S. Kowal (1979) A pausological approach to speech development. In A. Siegman and S. Feldstein (eds) Of speech and time. Temporal speech patterns in interpersonal contexts. Hillsdale New Jersey, Lawrence Erlbaum.

Soixante minutes... soixante voix (1984) cassette and transcription, Paris, B.E.L.C.

Wiese, R. (1984) Language production in foreign and native languages: same or different? In H. Dechert, D. Mohle and M. Raupach (eds) Second language production. Tubingen, Gunter Narr.

Cited by (17)

Cited by 17 other publications

Order by:

Varra, Rachel

2025. Sociolinguistic dimensions of flagging behavior. In Spanish Sociolinguistics in the 21st Century [Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics, 42], ► pp. 33 ff.

Williams, Simon

2022. Silent Pauses. In Disfluency and Proficiency in Second Language Speech Production, ► pp. 31 ff.

Williams, Simon

2022. Filled Pauses. In Disfluency and Proficiency in Second Language Speech Production, ► pp. 73 ff.

Williams, Simon

2022. Repetitions. In Disfluency and Proficiency in Second Language Speech Production, ► pp. 147 ff.

Williams, Simon

2022. Introduction. In Disfluency and Proficiency in Second Language Speech Production, ► pp. 1 ff.

Biebighäuser, Katrin

2021. Methodisch-didaktische Konzepte des DaF- und DaZ-Unterrichts. In Handbuch Deutsch als Fremd- und Zweitsprache, ► pp. 233 ff.

García-Amaya, Lorenzo

2021. A change of setting. Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education 6:1 ► pp. 32 ff.

Mostafa, Tamanna, Scott A. Crossley & YouJin Kim

2021. Predictors of English as second language learners’ oral proficiency development in a classroom context. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 31:3 ► pp. 526 ff.

Prokaeva, Valeriya, Elena Riekhakaynen & Vladislav Zubov

2021. Can Your Eyes Tell Us Why You Hesitate? Comparing Reading Aloud in Russian as L1 and Japanese as L2. In Speech and Computer [Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 12997], ► pp. 540 ff.

Yan, Xun, Ha Ram Kim & Ji Young Kim

2021. Dimensionality of speech fluency: Examining the relationships among complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) features of speaking performances on the Aptis test. Language Testing 38:4 ► pp. 485 ff.

Tang, Chihsia

2015. Applications of stalling mechanisms in Chinese-English bilinguals’ L1 and L2 spoken discourse. International Journal of Bilingualism 19:1 ► pp. 92 ff.

Simpson, Rebecca, Susana Eisenchlas & Michael Haugh

2013. The functions of self‐initiated self‐repair in the second language Chinese classroom1. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 23:2 ► pp. 144 ff.

Ginther, April, Slobodanka Dimova & Rui Yang

2010. Conceptual and empirical relationships between temporal measures of fluency and oral English proficiency with implications for automated scoring. Language Testing 27:3 ► pp. 379 ff.

Fontanini, Ingrid, Janaina Weissheimer, Joara Martin Bergsleithner, Magareth Perucci & Raquel D'Ely

2005. Memória de trabalho e desempenho em tarefas de L2. Revista Brasileira de Linguística Aplicada 5:2 ► pp. 189 ff.

Freed, Barbara F., Norman Segalowitz & Dan P. Dewey

2004. CONTEXT OF LEARNING AND SECOND LANGUAGE FLUENCY IN FRENCH: Comparing Regular Classroom, Study Abroad, and Intensive Domestic Immersion Programs. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 26:02

Cenoz, Jasone

2000. Pauses and hesitation phenomena in second language production. ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics 127-128 ► pp. 53 ff.

Van Hest, Erna, Nanda Poulisse & Theo Bongaerts

1997. Self-Repair in L1 and L2 Production. ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics 117-118 ► pp. 85 ff.

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 14 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.