LLS Colloquium: Implicit learning in production: Productive generalization of new L2 knowledge in the absence of awareness

On Wednesday 10th May 2023, Giulia Bovolenta (University of York) will be presenting on "productive generalization of new L2 knowledge in the absence of awareness".

Talk: Implicit learning in production: Productive generalization of new L2 knowledge in the absence of awareness

Research on the implicit learning of a second language (L2) has shown that a variety of linguistic features can be acquired by adult L2 learners without conscious awareness. However, this research overwhelmingly uses comprehension tests to measure implicit learning. It remains unclear whether newly acquired implicit knowledge can also be recruited for production.

In this talk, I will present a series of studies in which participants learned a semi-artificial language that included rules based on Czech spatial preposition usage. Participants were tested both in recall and with a novel false memory paradigm which caused them to generate new instances of the rules, while believing that they were still performing a recall task. The results of the studies indicate that it is possible to acquire a L2 rule and use it immediately in spoken production even without becoming aware of the rule acquired, but the learning outcomes are sensitive to fine-grained aspects of the learning paradigm being used. 

The talk will take place at 3pm in B/B/002, followed by a drinks reception in the Deborah Hines room. Everyone is welcome!