Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension

The integration of multiple linguistic modules – syntax, semantics and pragmatics – poses a persistent challenge for adult second language (L2) learners, as posited by the interface hypothesis (IH). This study examines how crosslinguistic influence impacts L2 learners’ acquisition and processing of...

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Main Authors: Sun Hee Park, Hyunwoo Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Language and Cognition
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1866980825100264/type/journal_article
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author Sun Hee Park
Hyunwoo Kim
author_facet Sun Hee Park
Hyunwoo Kim
author_sort Sun Hee Park
collection DOAJ
description The integration of multiple linguistic modules – syntax, semantics and pragmatics – poses a persistent challenge for adult second language (L2) learners, as posited by the interface hypothesis (IH). This study examines how crosslinguistic influence impacts L2 learners’ acquisition and processing of Korean quotative constructions at the syntax–semantics–pragmatics interface. Using offline acceptability judgment and online self-paced reading tasks, we compared Japanese- and Chinese-speaking learners of Korean. The results revealed that Japanese-speaking learners outperformed Chinese-speaking learners in offline tasks, demonstrating native-like sensitivity to case-marking constraints, likely due to the structural similarities between Japanese and Korean. However, neither learner group exhibited sensitivity to case-marking violations during real-time processing, unlike native Korean speakers. These findings suggest a dissociation between explicit knowledge and online processing abilities, supporting the IH and emphasizing the persistent challenges of integrating multiple linguistic domains in L2 processing. This study underscores the role of crosslinguistic influence in facilitating explicit knowledge acquisition while revealing its limitations in fostering native-like automaticity in online processing.
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spelling doaj-art-3669b70e9fe949f381ff9e90a73e23892025-08-20T03:36:45ZengCambridge University PressLanguage and Cognition1866-98081866-98592025-01-011710.1017/langcog.2025.10026Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehensionSun Hee Park0Hyunwoo Kim1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4810-6333Department of Korean Studies, https://ror.org/053fp5c05 Ewha Womans University , Seoul, Republic of KoreaDepartment of English Language and Literature, https://ror.org/01wjejq96 Yonsei University , Seoul, Republic of KoreaThe integration of multiple linguistic modules – syntax, semantics and pragmatics – poses a persistent challenge for adult second language (L2) learners, as posited by the interface hypothesis (IH). This study examines how crosslinguistic influence impacts L2 learners’ acquisition and processing of Korean quotative constructions at the syntax–semantics–pragmatics interface. Using offline acceptability judgment and online self-paced reading tasks, we compared Japanese- and Chinese-speaking learners of Korean. The results revealed that Japanese-speaking learners outperformed Chinese-speaking learners in offline tasks, demonstrating native-like sensitivity to case-marking constraints, likely due to the structural similarities between Japanese and Korean. However, neither learner group exhibited sensitivity to case-marking violations during real-time processing, unlike native Korean speakers. These findings suggest a dissociation between explicit knowledge and online processing abilities, supporting the IH and emphasizing the persistent challenges of integrating multiple linguistic domains in L2 processing. This study underscores the role of crosslinguistic influence in facilitating explicit knowledge acquisition while revealing its limitations in fostering native-like automaticity in online processing.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1866980825100264/type/journal_articleacceptability judgmentcrosslinguistic influenceinterface hypothesisL2 Koreanself-paced reading
spellingShingle Sun Hee Park
Hyunwoo Kim
Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension
Language and Cognition
acceptability judgment
crosslinguistic influence
interface hypothesis
L2 Korean
self-paced reading
title Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension
title_full Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension
title_fullStr Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension
title_full_unstemmed Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension
title_short Interface challenges in online processing: the role of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence comprehension
title_sort interface challenges in online processing the role of crosslinguistic influence in l2 sentence comprehension
topic acceptability judgment
crosslinguistic influence
interface hypothesis
L2 Korean
self-paced reading
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S1866980825100264/type/journal_article
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