Structural priming and discourse interference in second language acquisition: Overpassivization errors and priming

Abstract

The paper investigates the effects of structural priming on L2 overpassivization of accusative verbs. Overpassivization is a notorious problem for many L2 learners regardless of their proficiency. Researchers suggest that discourse factors such as the existence of a direct agent or a cause from a context play a major role in triggering this problem. Structural priming, which is said to construct an implicit learning mechanism, might provide a remedy for the overpassivization problem. Based upon this framework, the current study compared the target production rate of the priming group and non-priming group, before and after the treatment. The results show that priming has increased the active use of the unaccusative verbs, which were the target forms. Structural priming seems to have persisted despite the discourse interference which cause the overpassivization problem. This study is in favor of the framework that considers structural priming as a part of implicit learning. In addition, it will provide a pedagogical implication on how to teach unaccusative verbs to L2 learners.