In the native speaker’s eye: Online processing of anomalous learner syntax

Abstract How do native speakers process texts with anomalous learner syntax? Second-language learners of Norwegian, and other verb-second (V2) languages, frequently place the verb in third position (e.g., *Adverbial-Subject-Verb), although it is mandatory for these languages to appear second (Adverbial-Verb-Subject). In an eye-tracking study, Norwegian read sentences either grammatical V2 or ungrammatical verb-third (V3) word order. Unlike previous studies ungrammaticality, which have primarily addressed morphosyntactic anomalies, we exclusively manipulate order no morphological semantic changes. We found that reacted immediately V3 order, indicated by increased fixation durations more regressions out on subject, subsequently verb. Participants also recovered quickly, already following word. The effects grammaticality were unaffected length initial adverbial. study contributes future models sentence processing should be able accommodate various types “noisy” input, is, non-standard variation. Together new L2 anomalies current findings can help language instructors students prioritize aspects grammar focus on.