In:
Second Language Research, SAGE Publications, Vol. 27, No. 2 ( 2011-04), p. 251-272
Abstract:
Using eye-tracking, we investigate on-line processing of idioms in a biasing story context by native and non-native speakers of English. The stimuli are idioms used figuratively ( at the end of the day — ‘eventually’), literally ( at the end of the day — ‘in the evening’), and novel phrases ( at the end of the war). Native speaker results indicate a processing advantage for idioms over novel phrases, as evidenced by fewer and shorter fixations. Further, no processing advantage is found for figurative idiom uses over literal ones in a full idiom analysis or in a recognition point analysis. Contrary to native speaker results, non-native findings suggest that L2 speakers process idioms at a similar speed to novel phrases. Further, figurative uses are processed more slowly than literal ones. Importantly, the recognition point analysis allows us to establish where non-natives slow down when processing the figurative meaning.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0267-6583
,
1477-0326
DOI:
10.1177/0267658310382068
Language:
English
Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Publication Date:
2011
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2023712-1
SSG:
7,11
SSG:
5,3
SSG:
7,23
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