Effects of Communicative Pressures on Novice L2 Learners' Use of Optional Formal Devices

摘要

We conducted an Artificial Language Learning experiment to examine the production behavior of language learners in a dynamic communicative setting. Participants were exposed to a miniature language with two optional formal devices and were then asked to use the acquired language to transfer information in a cooperative game. The results showed that language learners optimize their use of the optional formal devices to transfer information efficiently and that they avoid the production of ambiguous information. These results could be used within the context of a language model such that the model can more accurately reflect the production behavior of human language learners.