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In:Prediction in Second Language Processing and Learning
Edited by Edith Kaan and Theres Grüter
[Bilingual Processing and Acquisition 12] 2021
► pp. 69–90

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Chapter 4
Influence of syntactic complexity on second language prediction

 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
 | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Published online: 22 September 2021
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/bpa.12.04chu
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of syntactic complexity on prediction in second language (L2) processing. In a visual world eye-tracking experiment, we compared L2 listeners’ prediction while processing simple (e.g., The dancer will open/ get the present) vs. complex sentences (e.g., I know the friend of the dancer that will open/ get the present). Prediction was measured by comparing fixations to targets (e.g., present) between semantically biasing (e.g., open) vs. neutral verb (e.g., get) conditions. Results showed that L2 speakers generated predictions while processing complex as well as simple sentences. However, the prediction effect during complex sentence processing emerged somewhat later. These findings suggest that L2 prediction is influenced by syntactic complexity which can increase cognitive load during sentence processing.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Prediction in comprehension
  • Prediction in L2 comprehension
  • Variation in prediction and mediating factors
  • The current study
  • Method
    • Participants
    • Materials
    • Procedure
  • Results
    • Behavioral task accuracy
    • Eye-tracking data analysis
  • Discussion
  • References
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Allison, Christopher, Falk Huettig, Leigh Fernandez & Thomas Lachmann
2025. Visuospatial working memory load reduces semantic prediction in the visual world. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience 40:9 ► pp. 1252 ff. DOI logo
Rooy, Floria Tosca van & Atty Schouwenaars
2025. Preschoolers’ word prediction in active and passive sentences. Nota Bene 2:2 ► pp. 491 ff. DOI logo
Alzahrani, Alaa
2023. What is the next structure? Guessing enhances L2 syntactic learning in a syntactic priming task. Frontiers in Psychology 14 DOI logo
Schlenter, Judith
2023. Prediction in bilingual sentence processing: How prediction differs in a later learned language from a first language. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 26:2 ► pp. 253 ff. DOI logo
Liu, Yiguang, Florian Hintz, Junying Liang & Falk Huettig
2022. Prediction in challenging situations: Most bilinguals can predict upcoming semantically-related words in their L1 source language when interpreting. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 25:5 ► pp. 801 ff. DOI logo

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