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Article published In: Journal of Second Language Studies
Vol. 1:1 (2018) ► pp.60–78

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Possibility of semantic involvement in the L1-L2 congruency effect in the processing of L2 collocations

 | Nagoya University
Published online: 7 May 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jsls.17024.yam
Abstract
A growing body of second language (L2) research has identified the congruency effect in the processing of L2 collocations (L2 collocations that have word-for-word translation equivalents in learners’ first language [L1] are processed more quickly and accurately than those that have no such forms in L1). However, the locus of this effect has yet to be fully understood. This study explored the possibility of semantic involvement in this phenomenon by categorizing congruent and incongruent items used in the past studies according to the semantic transparency of collocations. Results showed a clear dominance of transparent items in the congruent category and that of opaque items in the incongruent category, suggesting the possibility of semantic involvement in the congruency effect. However, considerations of other factors observed in the pertinent studies led to the conclusion that there is something more in the congruency effect beyond semantic transparency.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Identifying collocations
    • 1.2Congruency effect in the processing of L2 collocations
    • 1.3Semantic transparency of L2 collocations
    • 1.4Purpose of the study
  • 2.Method
    • 2.1Items
    • 2.2Semantic judgment
    • 2.3Analysis
  • 3.Results
    • 3.1The whole set of items
    • 3.2L1-Swedish items
    • 3.3L1-Japanese items
    • 3.4Japanese collocations
  • 4.Discussion
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
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