In:Teachability and Learnability across Languages
Edited by Ragnar Arntzen, Gisela Håkansson, Arnstein Hjelde and Jörg-U. Keßler
[Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching 6] 2019
► pp. 119–136
Chapter 6Elicited imitation as a diagnostic tool of morpho-syntactic processing
Published online: 6 June 2019
https://doi.org/10.1075/palart.6.06sat
https://doi.org/10.1075/palart.6.06sat
Abstract
This chapter evaluates the Elicited Imitation (EI) test as a tool to assess learners’ morpho-syntactic processing abilities. Within the VILLA project, the treatment of the nominative/accusative opposition by 17 Italian L1 initial learners of Polish L2 is observed on the one hand in an EI test paired with a comprehension test and on the other hand in free production. The EI test regularly elicits more accurate output than free production. We argue that this is not because learners simply repeat strings of sounds with no underlying processing but because of the lower communicative pressure exerted by the structured task. Although EI is not equivalent to spontaneous production, it may well represent a good compromise between ecological validity and practicality.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Methodology
- 2.1Input and participants
- 2.2Structured tests
- 2.3Spontaneous production
- 3.Research questions, rationale and hypotheses
- 4.Results
- 5.Discussion
- 6.Conclusion
Acknowledgements Notes References
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2020. The emergence of functional case marking in initial varieties of Polish L2. Language, Interaction and Acquisition 11:1 ► pp. 32 ff.
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