Academic Journal

Effects of Lexical Frequency in Predictive Processing: Higher Frequency Boosts First Language Speed and Facilitates Second Language Prediction

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Τίτλος: Effects of Lexical Frequency in Predictive Processing: Higher Frequency Boosts First Language Speed and Facilitates Second Language Prediction
Γλώσσα: English
Συγγραφείς: Haerim Hwang (ORCID 0000-0003-0888-590X), Kitaek Kim (ORCID 0000-0002-1242-034X)
Πηγή: Language Learning. 2026 76(1):249-279.
Διαθεσιμότητα: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 31
Ημερομηνία έκδοσης: 2026
Τύπος εγγράφου: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Language Processing, Second Language Learning, Prediction, Verbs, Nouns, Cues, Semantics, Word Frequency, Lexicology, Psycholinguistics
DOI: 10.1111/lang.12718
ISSN: 0023-8333
1467-9922
Περίληψη: This study explores how word frequency affects verb-mediated prediction in L1 and L2 speakers, using a visual-world eye-tracking task. By manipulating frequency of nouns within subjects (higher; lower) and type of verbs used as predictive cues (semantically restrictive; neutral) in sentences (e.g., "The {doctor/surgeon} {opened/moved} the box"), we investigated the impact of frequency of early-processed words on prediction, hypothesizing that higher-frequency words might free up cognitive resources, thus facilitating lexical retrieval, integration with a subsequent predictive cue, and ultimately prediction. Results showed that both L1 and L2 speakers predicted the target object upon hearing restrictive verbs. However, the L2 group showed such a predictive behavior only when the sentences contained higher-frequency subjects, whereas the L1 group did so in both conditions but faster with higher-frequency subjects. These results suggest L2 learners' sound ability to generate predictions, and underscore the importance of word frequency in facilitating both L1 and L2 prediction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Σημειώσεις: https://osf.io/tq74k
Entry Date: 2026
Αριθμός Καταχώρησης: EJ1496544
Βάση Δεδομένων: ERIC
Περιγραφή
ISSN:0023-8333
1467-9922
DOI:10.1111/lang.12718