The effect of input modes and number of exposures on the learning of L2 binomials

Abstract

Despite the importance of mastering different types of formulaic sequences in a second language, little is known about the relative effect of different input modes on their acquisition. This study explores the learning of a particular type of formulaic language (binomials) in three input modes (reading-only, listening-only, and reading-while-listening) at different frequencies of exposure (2, 4, 5 and 6 occurrences). Arabic learners of English were presented with three stories, each in a different mode, that contained novel binomials (e.g., wires and pipes) and existing binomials (e.g., brother and sister). Two post-tests (multiple-choice and familiarity ratings) assessed learners’ knowledge of the binomials. Results showed that reading-only and reading-while-listening led to better performance on the tasks than listening-only. Frequency of exposure had an effect on the perceived familiarity of binomials.

“Bread and butter” or “butter and bread”? Nonnatives’ processing of novel lexical patterns in context

“…Thus, it seems to be the case that whilst nonnatives did register co-occurrence restrictions in terms of which words go together, they did not register the configuration/order of the words. This lack of a configuration effect stands in contrast with findings of Alotaibi et al (2022) who found that nonnative Arab learners of English were able to develop sensitivity to the preferred order of binomials (similar to existing phrases) after six exposures. It should be noted, however, that unlike the present study, Alotaibi et al (2022) included higher frequency levels (up to six occurrences) than the present study (with a maximum of four encounters) and employed declarative post-treatment measures.…”

“…This lack of a configuration effect stands in contrast with findings of Alotaibi et al (2022) who found that nonnative Arab learners of English were able to develop sensitivity to the preferred order of binomials (similar to existing phrases) after six exposures. It should be noted, however, that unlike the present study, Alotaibi et al (2022) included higher frequency levels (up to six occurrences) than the present study (with a maximum of four encounters) and employed declarative post-treatment measures. Sonbul and Schmitt (2013) found a dissociation between gains in declarative (paper-and-pencil) tests and those reflecting online performance.…”

“…While most studies have focused on collocations, very few studies have examined the incidental acquisition of binomials. In one such study, Alotaibi et al (2022) investigated the effect of input mode (reading-only, listening-only, and reading-while-listening) and frequency of exposure (two, four, five, and six occurrences) on declarative binomial knowledge. Based on performance on immediate paper-and-pencil tests, results indicated that it was possible for nonnative learners of English (L1 Arabic) to develop declarative knowledge of the preferred order of binomials from the various input modes; novel binomials encountered six times showed similar familiarity ratings as existing binomials.…”

“…Another research area is concerned with how binomials are acquired by native and non-native speakers. Some studies have addressed this question using posttreatment tasks (Alotaibi et al, 2021) or using eye-tracking to examine the processing of novel binomials as it unfolds in real time (Alotaibi, 2020;Conklin & Carrol, 2021).…”

“…Another research area is concerned with how binomials are acquired by native and nonnative speakers. Some studies have addressed this question using post-treatment tasks (Alotaibi et al, 2022) or using eye-tracking to examine the processing of novel binomials as it unfolds in real time (Alotaibi, 2020;Conklin & Carrol, 2021). The current study aims to contribute to research on the processing of novel binomials (i.e., infrequent phrases which do not have a conventionalized word order) by extending the work of Conklin and Carrol (2021), who examined the processing of novel binomials in native speakers, to a population of nonnative speakers of English.…”