TY - JOUR

T1 - Oculomotor Behavior of L2 Readers with Typologically Distant L1 Background: The "Big Three" Effects of Word Length, Frequency, and Predictability

AU - Норкина, Марина Владимировна

AU - Чернова, Дарья Алексеевна

AU - Алексеева, Светлана Владимировна

AU - Харчевник, Мария Александровна

PY - 2025/10/18

Y1 - 2025/10/18

N2 - Oculomotor reading behavior is influenced by both universal factors, like the "big three" of word length, frequency, and contextual predictability, and language-specific factors, such as script and grammar. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the "big three" factors on L2 reading focusing on a typologically distant L1/L2 pair with dramatic differences in script and grammar. A total of 41 native Chinese-speaking learners of Russian (levels A2-B2) and 40 native Russian speakers read a corpus of 90 Russian sentences for comprehension. Their eye movements were recorded with EyeLink 1000+. We analyzed both early (gaze duration and skipping rate) and late (regression rate and rereading time) eye movement measures. As expected, the "big three" effects influenced oculomotor behavior in both L1 and L2 readers, being more pronounced for L2, but substantial differences were also revealed. Word frequency in L1 reading primarily influenced early processing stages, whereas in L2 reading it remained significant in later stages as well. Predictability had an immediate effect on skipping rates in L1 reading, while L2 readers only exhibited it in late measures. Word length was the only factor that interacted with L2 language exposure which demonstrated adjustment to alphabetic script and polymorphemic word structure. Our findings provide new insights into the processing challenges of L2 readers with typologically distant L1 backgrounds.

AB - Oculomotor reading behavior is influenced by both universal factors, like the "big three" of word length, frequency, and contextual predictability, and language-specific factors, such as script and grammar. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the "big three" factors on L2 reading focusing on a typologically distant L1/L2 pair with dramatic differences in script and grammar. A total of 41 native Chinese-speaking learners of Russian (levels A2-B2) and 40 native Russian speakers read a corpus of 90 Russian sentences for comprehension. Their eye movements were recorded with EyeLink 1000+. We analyzed both early (gaze duration and skipping rate) and late (regression rate and rereading time) eye movement measures. As expected, the "big three" effects influenced oculomotor behavior in both L1 and L2 readers, being more pronounced for L2, but substantial differences were also revealed. Word frequency in L1 reading primarily influenced early processing stages, whereas in L2 reading it remained significant in later stages as well. Predictability had an immediate effect on skipping rates in L1 reading, while L2 readers only exhibited it in late measures. Word length was the only factor that interacted with L2 language exposure which demonstrated adjustment to alphabetic script and polymorphemic word structure. Our findings provide new insights into the processing challenges of L2 readers with typologically distant L1 backgrounds.

KW - reading

KW - oculomotor behavior

KW - L2 readers

KW - late eye movement measures

KW - early eye movement measures

KW - word predictability

KW - word frequency

KW - word length

U2 - 10.3390/jemr18050058

DO - 10.3390/jemr18050058

M3 - Article

C2 - 41149960

VL - 18

JO - Journal of Eye Movement Research

JF - Journal of Eye Movement Research

SN - 1995-8692

IS - 5

M1 - 58

ER -