The Role of L1 Reading Direction on L2 Perceptual Span: An Eye-Tracking Study Investigating Hindi and Urdu Speakers

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  • Author(s): Fernandez, Leigh B. (ORCID Fernandez, Leigh B. (ORCID 0000-0002-1635-2671); Bothe, Ricarda; Allen, Shanley E. M. (ORCID Allen, Shanley E. M. (ORCID 0000-0002-5421-6750)
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Second Language Research. Apr 2023 39(2):447-469.
  • Publication Date:
    2023
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: https://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      23
    • Education Level:
      Higher Education
      Postsecondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      Native Language; Second Language Learning; Transfer of Training; Urdu; Indo European Languages; Comparative Analysis; Written Language; English (Second Language); Contrastive Linguistics; Reading Processes; Eye Movements; Vocabulary; Grammar; Reading Rate; Attention Control; College Students; Bilingualism; Foreign Countries
    • Subject Terms:
      Germany
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/02676583211049742
    • ISSN:
      0267-6583
      1477-0326
    • Abstract:
      In the current study we used the gaze-contingent moving window paradigm to directly compare the second language (L2) English perceptual span of two groups that speak languages with essentially the same lexicon and grammar but crucially with different writing directions (and scripts): Hindi (read left to right) and Urdu (read right to left). This is the first study to directly compare first language (L1) speakers of languages that differ primarily in reading direction in a common L2, English. While Urdu speakers had a slightly faster reading rate, we found no additional differences between Hindi and Urdu speakers when reading L2 English; both groups showed a perceptual span between 9 and 11 characters to the right of the fixation based on saccade length. This suggests little to no influence of L1 reading direction on L2 perceptual span, but rather that L2 perceptual span is influenced by allocation of attention during reading. Our data are in line with research by Leung et al. (2014) finding that L2 speakers have a smaller perceptual span than native speakers (L1 perceptual span is approximately 15 characters to the right of the fixation). This most likely stems from the increased demands associated with reading in a second language, which led to a reduction in the amount of attention that can be allocated outside of the current fixation.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2023
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1372512