Accurate L2 Production across Language Tasks: Focus on Form, Focus on Meaning, and Communicative Control

Abstract

Attention to form has been shown to be a direct predictor of accuracy in second language (L2) production (Ellis, 1987; Tomlin & Villa, 1994). However, Tarone and Parrish (1988) claim that communicative pressure (communicative demands of linguistic interaction) may be as important as attention to form. The present study analyzes the accuracy of L2 Spanish production across 3 different tasks (narrative task, multiple-choice cloze test, and fill-in-the-blanks cloze test) on 3 discourse-determined grammatical items (subject pronouns, articles, and past tense aspect) among 74 native (L1) English speakers (45 intermediate and 29 advanced students). The analysis of the data reveals different rates of accuracy in L2 production according to task type and grammatical item. The effect of functional focus on form (communicative pressure) may constitute one of various factors that affect accuracy in L2 production. The analysis of the data also considers other factors such as communicative control.