Learning to optimise reading: an exploratory study of eye movement transfer across languages

He, Shiyu ORCID: 0009-0009-8832-167X (2024). Learning to optimise reading: an exploratory study of eye movement transfer across languages. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This dissertation provides an in-depth analysis of eye movement behaviour during reading in Chinese learners of English as a second language (L2, English), specifically focusing on the unique challenges posed by the divergent orthographic systems of the L1 and the L2.
At the core of this research lies a detailed exploration of how both language-general factors (e.g., word length and frequency) and task-specific factors (e.g., word order in the experiment) influence eye movement behaviours in reading across linguistically diverse systems. The significant orthographic disparity between Chinese and English provides a unique opportunity to examine how readers adapt their eye movements when navigating typologically distinct scripts, with a particular focus on controlling for common factors such as word frequency and length. Setting the eye movements of these L2 learners against eye movements from L1 reading in English and Chinese offers a broader perspective on reading behaviours across different linguistic backgrounds.

The thesis commences with a thorough literature review, contrasting the dense, spaceless appearance of the Chinese script with the more linear, spaced nature of English writing. This comparison lays the groundwork for a nuanced exploration into how readers modulate their eye movement patterns to accommodate the distinct linguistic structures and challenges presented by each script.

The eye movement investigation is structured around three central research questions. Firstly, it assesses how fixation durations and overall reading patterns vary among Chinese students reading in English, considering the dynamic evolution of these patterns in relation to varying levels of English proficiency and exposure. Secondly, the study investigates the influence of the Chinese script as an L1 on reading behaviours in English as an L2, examining the potential bidirectional transfer of reading strategies and the impact of prolonged exposure to English on reading behaviours in Chinese. Lastly, the research evaluates the facilitatory vs. inhibitory effects of prior exposure to similar content on reading processes in both L1 and L2, specifically probing how pre-reading similar content in either language under consideration affects subsequent eye movement patterns and reading strategies.

Employing advanced statistical techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and mixed effects modelling, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between language proficiency, exposure, and cognitive mechanisms in reading across different scripts. The findings of this research significantly contribute to the field of cross-linguistic eye movement research and offer practical implications for language instruction and the development of reading interventions in multilingual contexts.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):