The Relationship Between Implicit and Explicit Second-Language Processing: The Role of Cross-Language Similarity

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between implicit and explicit second-language (L2) processing in beginning L2 learners, and how cross-language similarity influences this relationship. The brain activity of native English speakers was recorded as they performed grammaticality judgments on Spanish sentences. The three types of agreement violations used were similar in the two languages (Similar type), different in the two (Different type), and unique to L2 (Unique type). After a baseline assessment, we improved participants' accuracy and then retested them on new and repeated items. Results showed that the explicit increase in accuracy was accompanied by a significant increase in brain sensitivity, as measured by the P600 ERP component. This effect was most pronounced for the Similar and Different types. Additionally, grammatical sensitivity was greater for repeated items in both measures of processing, and this was also modulated by cross-language similarity as well as the specific type of repetition. The obtained results are in line with an interface position on the relationship between implicit and explicit L2 processing and suggest a strong modulatory role of cross-language similarity in both types of processing.Keywords: Implicit/Explicit Processing; Second Language Processing; Cross-Language Similarity; ERPs; P600.