An ERPs Study On Chinese EFL Learners’ Processing Of Binomials

Formulaic language is a kind of frequently occurring multi-word structure.A large number of studies have shown that formulaic languages account for a large proportion of everyday communication and written expressions.At present,the conclusions on the psychological reality of L1 formulaic languages tend to be consistent.It’s basically reached a consensus that native speakers have advantages of formulaic languages processing,while the researches on the psychological reality of L2 formulaic languages are relatively scarce,and the results are still controversial.Based on the existing researches,this study selects English binomials,a special type of formulaic languages,uses online grammar judgment task,explores the psychological reality of L2 formulaic languages through two experiments,and discusses the role of frequency,meaning relationship of component words and English levels on Chinese English learners’ processing of English binomials.On the basis of this,the study uses ERPs experim ental technique to supplement the brain neural mechanism of L2 formulaic languages processing.Results and conclusions:(1)Chinese EFL learners have a better response speed and accuracy towards high-frequency binomials than low-frequency binomials.This result indicates that there is a frequency effect of Chinese EFL learners on the processing of binomials,which reflects the psychological reality of the L2 formulaic languages to some extent.(2)In the reaction time and error rate indicators,the Chinese English learners’processing of the binomials of the high-frequency and antisense component word relationship is significantly faster than the low-frequency and antisense component word relationship binomials.This result indicates that Chinese English learners have a reaction advantage to the binomials of antisense relationship,compared with the binomials of synonymous relationship and class meaning relationship.The meaning relationship of component words has a regulating effect on frequency effect.(3)When judging the antisense relationship binomials,both the high and low English level participants h ave a significantly lower error rate for the high-frequency binomials than for the low-frequency binomials.When judging the class meaning relationship of bin.omials,only the low English level participants have a significantly lower error rate for the high-frequency binomials than for the low-frequency binomials.These results indicate that the learner’s English level influences the regulating effect of meaning relationship of component words on frequency effect.(4)In the early time window(250-350ms),the average amplitude of the P300 induced by the high-frequency binomials is significantly larger than the low-frequency binomials.The average amplitude of the P300 induced by the binomials of antisense relationship is significantly larger than the bin omials of synonymous relationship.These results indicate that the high-frequency binomials and the binomials of antisense relationship are more inclined to the overall storage and representation in the psychological dictionary.(5)In the late time window(350-450ms),the average amplitude of the N400 induced by the binomials of antisense relationship is significantly smaller than the binomials of the synonymous relationship.This result indicates that participants have a processing advantage on the binomials of the antisense relationship and they are more inclined to the overall storage and representation.