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TIMED AND UNTIMED GRAMMATICALITY JUDGMENTS MEASURE DISTINCT TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE

Evidence from Eye-Movement Patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2015

Aline Godfroid*
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Shawn Loewen
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Sehoon Jung
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Ji-Hyun Park
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Susan Gass
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
Rod Ellis
Affiliation:
University of Auckland
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Aline Godfroid, Second Language Studies Program, Michigan State University, B253 Wells Hall, 619 Red Cedar Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824. E-mail: godfroid@msu.edu

Abstract

Grammaticality judgment tests (GJTs) have been used to elicit data reflecting second language (L2) speakers’ knowledge of L2 grammar. However, the exact constructs measured by GJTs, whether primarily implicit or explicit knowledge, are disputed and have been argued to differ depending on test-related variables (i.e., time pressure and item grammaticality).

Using eye-tracking, this study replicates the GJT results in R. Ellis (2005). Twenty native and 40 nonnative English speakers judged sentences with and without time pressure. Analyses revealed that time pressure suppressed regressions (right-to-left eye movements) in nonnative speakers only. Conversely, both groups regressed more on untimed, grammatical items. These findings suggest that timed and untimed GJTs measure different constructs, which could correspond to implicit and explicit knowledge, respectively. In particular, they point to a difference in the levels of automatic and controlled processing involved in responding to the timed and untimed tests. Furthermore, untimed grammatical items may induce GJT-specific task effects.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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