Syntactic Priming Effects on EFL Learners’ Production and Retention of Indirect Questions

Subject Areas : Research in English Language Pedagogy

Reza Biria ¹ , Ahmad Ameri Golestan ²

1 - Department of English, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of English, Majlesi Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2012-06-20 Accepted : 2013-06-10 Published : 2013-06-10

Keywords: EFL learners, metaphor, language proficiency, Metaphorical Competence,

Abstract :

This study examines the impact of syntactic priming on the production and retention of indirect questions by Iranian learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Eighty learners participated in two experiments investigating the impact of syntactic priming on oral production and retention of indirect questions. Experiment 1 showed that priming resulted in increased production of the target structure by the Experimental groups as compared with production by the Control groups. Experiment 2 showed that the rate of production of the target structure remained significantly higher for participants in the Experimental groups one day later.

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