On the Role of Prefabricated Speech in L2 Acquisition Process: An Information Processing Approach

This study focused on the role of prefabricated speech (routines and patterns) in the L2 acquisition process. The data for this study consisted of spontaneous speech samples and various observational records of three Korean children learning English as L2 in a nursery school. The specific questions addressed here were: (1) What routines, patterns, and creative constructions did the children use? (2) What was the general trend in the three children's use of routines, patterns, and creative constructions over time? The data were collected over a period of one school year by observing the children in their school. The findings were discussed from the perspective of human information processing. This study found that prefabricated speech played a significant role in the three children's L2 acquisition. The automatic processing of prefabricated speech appeared to enable the children to reduce the burden on their information processing systems, which allowed the saved resources available for other language development activities. Also, the children's language development was evident in their increase in the use of patterns. The children were moving from heavy dependence on wholly unanalyzed routines to increased use of partly unanalyzed patterns. This increased control was the result of an increase in procedural knowledge.