Speakers use more redundant references with language learners: Evidence for communicatively-efficient referential choice

• Speakers use more redundant references when their interlocutors are learners. Increased found for both child and adult controlling discourse status. According to the communicative efficiency hypothesis, speakers should produce linguistic material comprehension difficulty increases. Here, we investigate a potential source of – listeners’ language proficiency on speakers’ productions, using referential choice as case study. Referential is influenced by efficiency: pronouns used less than full noun phrases (NPs) predictable referents (Tily & Piantadosi, 2009). However, extent which it listener debated. compare participants’ descriptions same picture book children, L2 learners native speakers. We find that NPs alike, illustrating an effect (regardless age) production choices. Importantly, increased relative discourse-related differences (e.g., previous mention), suggesting direct relation between perceived choice.