1 sentence processing in learners of mandarin as a second language jerry packard university of...
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Sentence Processing in Learners of Mandarin as a Second Language
Jerry Packard
University of Illinois
Chinese LEARN Conference
Defense Language InstituteMonterey, California
7/22/10
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“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”
There are two theories that address this question
One theory says that our students knowledge of the L2 grammar is incomplete … their knowledge of grammar is not ‘deep’ enough … their grammar knowledge is too ‘shallow’
Another theory says that our students don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’, that is, not enough memory dedicated to the second language
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• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’
• theory 2 – they don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’
“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”
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• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’
what would that look like…?
“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
…???… shei zhuile gou …???
6
Zhangsan
张三
7
Zhangsan xihuan
张三喜欢
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi
张三喜欢李四
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui
张三喜欢李四追
10
Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de
张三喜欢李四追的
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
…???… shei zhuile gou …???
13
Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
…???… shei zhuile gou …???
Answer must be extracted from complex structure..!!
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• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’
• theory 2 – they don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’
what would that look like…?
“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”
15
Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
…???… shei xihuan gou …???
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Zhangsan
张三
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Zhangsan xihuan
张三喜欢
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi
张三喜欢李四
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui
张三喜欢李四追
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de
张三喜欢李四追的
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
…???… shei xihuan gou …???
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
…???… shei xihuan gou …???
Answer must be kept in memory till end of sentence..!!
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• theory 1 – their L2 grammar is too ‘shallow’
can’t do complex structures !
• theory 2 – they don’t have enough ‘L2 memory’
can’t remember beginning of sentence !
“ …Why can't our students do better…? ”
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So, I examined processing of sentences in native and L2 Chinese speakers …
• to compare how they process information at the front and back of utterances (memory), and…
• to compare how they process information in complex structures (depth)
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My previous work had compared subject and object gap processing in relative clauses in L1 and L2 Chinese speakers…
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Object gap
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Zhangsan
张三
Object gap
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Zhangsan xihuan
张三喜欢
Object gap
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi
张三喜欢李四
Object gap
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui
张三喜欢李四追
Object gap
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de
张三喜欢李四追的
Object gap
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
Subject gap
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
Subject gap
Zhangsan xihuan
张三喜欢
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
Subject gap
Zhangsan xihuan zhui
张三喜欢追
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
Subject gap
Zhangsan xihuan zhui Lisi
张三喜欢追李四
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
Subject gap
Zhangsan xihuan zhui Lisi de
张三喜欢追李四的
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Zhangsan xihuan Lisi zhui de gou
张三喜欢李四追的狗
Object gap
Subject gap
Zhangsan xihuan zhui Lisi de
张三喜欢追李四的狗
40
My previous work had compared subject and object gap relative clause processing in L1 and L2 Chinese speakers…
Result: Mandarin native speakers and Mandarin L2 learners both process subject-gap relative clauses more slowly than object-gap relative clauses
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Gap processing speed, L1 vs L2re
spon
se t
ime
Chinese L1 Chinese L2
subject group
Subject GapObject Gap
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So, I examined those data to look for processing speed differences at the end and beginning of utterances (memory) and in complex structures (depth)
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Relative Clauses
relative clause as matrix object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o
relative clause as matrix subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o
relative clause as matrix object
relative clause as matrix subject
A relative clause in Chinese can be either the subject or the object of the matrix sentence
44
Relative Clauses
relative clause as matrix object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o
relative clause as matrix subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o
relative clause in back
relative clause up front
When you move the relative clause like that, it moves closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence
45
Relative Clauses
relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o
relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o
main verb up front
main verb in back
When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence
46
Relative Clauses
relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o
relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o
de in back
de in front
When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence
47
Relative Clauses
relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o
relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o
relative clause head in back
relative clause head in front
When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence
48
Relative Clauses
relative clause as object: Zhangsan xihuan [Lisi zhui de gou] s v o
relative clause as subject: [Lisi zhui de gou] xihuan Zhangsan s v o
matrix SVO in front
matrix SVO in back
When you move the relative clause, other sentence parts become closer to the front, or closer to the back, of the sentence
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1. Do Mandarin speakers process sentences faster at the beginning, or the end?
2. Do Mandarin speakers process complex structure faster at the beginning or end of the sentence?
3. Do L1 and L2 Mandarin speakers differ in 1 or 2 above?
Questions of interest:
50
MethodTask:
• Computerized self-paced sentence reading task, with words elicited by subject keypress
(= ‘moving window’)
• Reaction time recorded for each word at keypress
• Each word’s response time is an indicator of its processing load
• Stimulus sentence followed by a simple probe statement about content of stimulus sentence
• Subjects press ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in response to the probe statement
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Example of stimulus sentence, followed by probe statement,
follows………
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Ready…..
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张三
54
喜欢
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李四
56
追
57
的
58
狗
59
那条狗追了张三 (yes/no)
( “that dog chased Zhangsan” )
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If a subject picks the wrong ‘yes/no’ response, the data for that sentence
are discarded
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Subjects (2 groups):
• 41 native (L1) speakers of Mandarin
• 14 speakers of Mandarin as L2
• second- or third-year student level
• all paid participants
• all at least two years of college
• all between age 18 and 35
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Stimuli:
• (for each subject group) 12 exemplars each of relative clause in matrix subject and object position = 24 experimental sentences
• 24 control sentences of varied length and structure
• 48 total stimulus sentences randomly presented via DMDX (J. Forster and K. Forster, U of
Arizona)
• ½ of 48 probe sentences ‘true’, ½ ‘false’
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Data Analysis
• Response times for individual words were replaced if:
• response time is less than 100 msec
• response time is more than 2.5 standard deviations above the group mean for that word type within sentence type
• These ‘outlier’ responses were replaced with that subject’s mean response time for that word type within sentence type
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Data Analysis (cont.)
ANOVAs –
• dependent variable –
response time
• independent variables –
sentence part (main verb, head, de, etc.)
position within matrix sentence (front, back)
65
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369
back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
66
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369
back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
67
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
68
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
69
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
70
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
71
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
72
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
73
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
74
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
75
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
76
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
77
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
78
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369
back 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
79
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 1478
back 1329
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
80
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 1478 380
back 1329 427
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
81
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 1478 380 1732
back 1329 427 1598
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
82
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 1478 380 1732 345
back 1329 427 1598 362
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
83
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 1478 380 1732 345 467
back 1329 427 1598 362 533
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
84
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
631 380 380 389 362 467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
636 382 345 369 427 533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 1478 380 1732 345 467 369
back 1329 427 1598 362 533 467
Results: Native Mandarin Speakers (in milliseconds)
85
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
467
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
533
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 369back 467
Results: Mandarin (in milliseconds)L2 Speakers
86
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 4206
back 4972
Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)
87
Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 4206 1165
back 4972 1375
88
Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 4206 1165 5803
back 4972 1375 6193
89
Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 4206 1165 5803 766
back 4972 1375 6193 848
90
Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 4206 1165 5803 766 1696
back 4972 1375 6193 848 1567
91
Results: Mandarin L2 Speakers (in milliseconds)
张三 喜欢 李四 追 的 狗S V m1 m2 de O
1344 1165 1681 1966 848 1696
李四 追 的 狗 喜欢 张三m1 m2 de S V O
1590 1416 766 2029 1375 1567
Matrix
Sen
Matrix
Verb
RelativeClause
de Matrix
Object
head
front 4206 1165 5803 766 1696 2029
back 4972 1375 6193 848 1567 1696
92
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc
Matrx SV
Matrx Verb
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc
Matrx SV
Matrx Verb
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
93
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV
Matrx Verb
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV
Matrx Verb
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
94
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
95
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
96
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
97
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb
de
Matrx Object
head
98
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de
Matrx Object
head
99
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de 766 848
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de 345 362
Matrx Object
head
100
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de 766 848
Matrx Object
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de 345 362
Matrx Object
head
101
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de 766 848
Matrx Object 1696 1567
head
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de 345 362
Matrx Object 467 533
head
102
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de 766 848
Matrx Object 1696 1567
head 2029 1696
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de 345 362
Matrx Object 467 533
head 369 467
103
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de 766 848
Matrx Object 1696 1567
head 2029 1696
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de 345 362
Matrx Object 467 533
head 369 467
104
Everything else is slow in back for L2…..
Why are matrix object and relative clause head fast in back for L2?
105
L2 Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 4206 4972
Matrx Arg Struc 2509 2942
Matrx SV 2510 3404
Matrx Verb 1165 1375
Relative Clause 5803 6193
RC Arg Struc 3006 3647
RC verb 1669 2138
de 766 848
Matrx Object 1696 1567
head 2029 1696
red = slow
Native Chinese Speakers
front back
Matrix SVO 1478 1329
Matrx Arg Struc 1011 960
Matrx SV 1011 796
Matrx Verb 380 427
Relative Clause 1732 1598
RC Arg Struc 1018 769
RC verb 523 383
de 345 362
Matrx Object 467 533
head 369 467????
106
Matrix Object faster in back because SV and O are adjacent/local, not interrupted/distant
= memory
Q: Why are matrix object and relative clause head fast in back for L2?
H0: L2 limits in both memory and structure!
107
s v o v rel cl
s v o v rel cl
Matrix Object faster in back because SV and O are adjacent/local, not interrupted/distant
= memory
O is separated from SV by relcl, therefore
O is slow
O is adjacent to SV, therefore
O is fast
108
Matrix Object faster in back because SV and O are adjacent/local, not interrupted/distant
= memory
Relative clause head faster in back because head is not fully processed -
L2 speakers quickly integrate ‘shallow’ matrix object = shallow structure
Q: Why are matrix object and relative clause head fast in back for L2?
H0: L2 limits in both memory and structure!
109
s v o v rel cl
s v o v rel cl
Relative clause head faster in back because head is not fully processed -
L2 speakers quickly integrate shallow matrix object = shallow structure
Head in back Head up front
110
s v o v rel cl
s v o v rel cl
Relative clause head faster in back because head is not fully processed -
L2 speakers quickly integrate shallow matrix object = shallow structure
Head is not fully processed, therefore
response is fast
Head is fully processed, therefore
response is slow
111
L2 Mandarin speakers satisfy the relative clause verb selectional restrictions first (= local), then satisfy the matrix verb selectional restrictions
Native Mandarin speakers, in contrast, satisfy thematrix verb selectional restrictions first (= global), then satisfy the relative clause verb selectional restrictions
Hypothesis: because the L2 speakers are processing locally (embedded sentence) rather than globally (matrix sentence)
Q: Why is the head not fully processed in L2 speakers?
112
When processing complex sentences, native Mandarin speakers satisfy matrix verb selectional restrictions first (= global), and then satisfy relative clause verb selectional restrictions (= local)
113
satisfy this verb selectionalrestriction first then satisfy this verb
selectional restriction
Native Mandarin Speakers
114
In other words, in gap-filler processing, when processing complex sentences, native Mandarin speakers fill matrix verb gaps first (= global), and then fill relative clause verb gaps (= local)
115
fill this verb gap first(w/ de) then fill this verb gap
(w/ gou)
Native Mandarin Speakers
116
In contrast, L2 Mandarin speakers fill embedded verb gaps first (= local), and then fill relative clause verb gaps (= global)
117
then fill this verb gap(w/ gou) fill this verb gap first
(w/ de)
L2 Mandarin Speakers
118
Native Mandarin Speakers
start looking for matrix verb
119
start looking for object of xihuan
Native Mandarin Speakers
120object of xihuan found…?
Native Mandarin Speakers
121
object of xihuan not found
Native Mandarin Speakers
122
object of xihuan not found continue looking for object of xihuan
Native Mandarin Speakers
123
matrix object NP not found continue looking for matrix object NPstart looking for object of zhui
Native Mandarin Speakers
124
object of xihuan found!
Native Mandarin Speakers
125
object of zhui found!
Native Mandarin Speakers
126
Data from the present study suggest that L2 Mandarin speakers fill relative clause verb gaps first (= local), and then fill matrix verb gaps (= global)
127
L2 Mandarin Speakers
start looking for matrix verb
128
start looking for object of xihuan
L2 Mandarin Speakers
129object of xihuan found…?
L2 Mandarin Speakers
130
object of xihuan not found
L2 Mandarin Speakers
131
object of xihuan not found continue looking for object of xihuan
L2 Mandarin Speakers
132
object of xihuan not found continue looking for object of xihuan start looking for object of zhui
L2 Mandarin Speakers
133
object of zhui found!
L2 Mandarin Speakers
(local vs. global)
(different from native speakers)
134
object of xihuan found!
L2 Mandarin Speakers
(different from native speakers)
Fast!
135
Evidence that native Mandarin speakers fill matrix verb gaps first :
ERP studies of relative clause processing in native Mandarin speakers
Packard, Ye & Zhou (2010). 'Filler-gap processing in Mandarin relative clauses: Evidence from Event-
Related Potentials'.
136
F3-SS-F3-OS-
F3-SO-F3-OO-
S
-3.00 -2.50 -2.00 -1.50 -1.00 -0.50 0.00 0.50 1.00
-
+
Red = subject-gap Blue = object-gap
Ø like Lisi de dog hased Zhangsan Lisi like Ø
Relative clauses in matrix subject position
P600 effect on relative marker de
137
F3-F3-
S
-3.00 -2.50 -2.00 -1.50 -1.00 -0.50 0.00 0.50 1.00
-
+
Red = subject-gap Blue = object-gap
Zhangsan like Ø chase Lisi de dog Lisi chase Ø
P600 effect on relative clause head
Relative clauses in matrix object position
138
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
139
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
说一词 , 加一词 - ( 加在后 )
give student ‘new’ word
student adds new word to the end
student must hold ‘new’ word in memory until ‘old’ words are spoken
140
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那
141
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
142
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个
143
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
144
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生
145
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
146
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐
147
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
148
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
在
149
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
在 ‘那个学生坐在’
150
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
在 ‘那个学生坐在’
椅子
151
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
在 ‘那个学生坐在’
椅子 ‘那个学生坐在椅子’
152
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
在 ‘那个学生坐在’
椅子 ‘那个学生坐在椅子’
上
153
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
那 ‘那’
个 ‘那个’
学生 ‘那个学生’
坐 ‘那个学生坐’
在 ‘那个学生坐在’
椅子 ‘那个学生坐在椅子’
上 ‘那个学生坐在椅子上’
154
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
说一词 , 加一词 - (加在前 )
give student ‘new’ word
student adds new word to the beginning
student immediately speaks ‘new’ word, followed by all ‘old’ words held in memory
155
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上
156
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
157
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子
158
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
159
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在
160
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
161
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
坐
162
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
坐 ‘坐在椅子上’
163
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
坐 ‘坐在椅子上’
学生
164
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
坐 ‘坐在椅子上’
学生 ‘学生坐在椅子上’
165
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
坐 ‘坐在椅子上’
学生 ‘学生坐在椅子上’
那个
166
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingMEMORY
上 ‘上’
椅子 ‘椅子上’
在 ‘在椅子上’
坐 ‘坐在椅子上’
学生 ‘学生坐在椅子上’
那个 ‘那个学生坐在椅子上’
167
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
168
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三喜欢李四追的狗
169
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三喜欢李四追的狗 张三追了狗吗 ?
170
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
李四追了张三喜欢的狗
171
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
李四追了张三喜欢的狗
张三追了狗吗 ?
172
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三追了狗咬到的猫
173
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三追了狗咬到的猫
张三追了狗吗 ?
174
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三追了被狗咬到的猫
175
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三追了被狗咬到的猫
张三追了狗吗 ?
176
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三追了把猫咬到的狗
177
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
张三追了把猫咬到的狗猫咬了狗吗 ?
178
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
那只猫追的三只狗都是黑的
179
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
有几只猫 ?
180
Activities to improve L2 memory and
complex structure processingCOMPLEX STRUCTURE
“ 回答问题”Answer Q on complex sentence content
那只猫追的三只狗都是黑的
有几只猫 ?
181
L1: global
L2: adjacent
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
182
L1: global
L2: adjacent
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
183
L1: global
L2: local
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
184
L1: global deep
L2: local
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
185
L1: global deep
L2: local shallow
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
186
L1: global deep non-linear
L2: local shallow
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
187
L1: global deep non-linear
L2: local shallow linear
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
188
L1: global deep non-linear distant
L2: local shallow linear
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
189
L1: global deep non-linear distant
L2: local shallow linear adjacent
L1 and L2 Processing Summary
190
Conclude
• memory and structure may both be difficult for L2 learners of Mandarin
• activities can be designed to improve L2 memory and complex structure processing
191
Thanks to…
Hiroko Yamashita Kevin MillerFred DavidsonSusanne ArefLiwei Gao
Hang Zhang Zhijun Wang
Hee-Kyung Lee James Yoon
Susan Garnsey Fuyun Wu
UIUC Research Board
192
Thank you!