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Information Type and Its Relation to Nonnative Speaker Comprehension *
Author(s) -
Derwing Tracey M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
language learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.882
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1467-9922
pISSN - 0023-8333
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-1770.1989.tb00420.x
Subject(s) - psychology , comprehension , linguistics , first language , language proficiency , narrative , relation (database) , second language acquisition , task (project management) , mathematics education , computer science , philosophy , management , database , economics
A native speaker‐nonnative speaker (NS‐NNS) conversational adjustment in the relative proportions of information type was examined for its relation to communicative success. Sixteen native speakers of English were paired with other native speakers and with low‐proficiency nonnative speakers. The subjects viewed a short film, the content of which they were to relay to their two partners independently. Communicative success was measured through comprehension questions addressed to the listeners at the completion of the task. The relative importance of propositional information in the narratives was determined and adjustments were measured. Analyses indicated that an increase in the proportion of background detail correlated with comprehension problems for second‐language learners. The implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for further research are made.