L1 thinking-for-Speaking Habits are Difficult to Change in L2: Evidence from the Semantic Domain of Motion

Abstract

Research into how motion events are expressed in different languages lent support to predictions (a) and (b) (e.g., Ibarretxe-Antuñano, 2004;Cifuentez-Férez&Gentner, 2006;Slobin, Ibarretxe-Antuñano, Kopecka, &Majid, 2014;Feist, 2015; Özçalişkan, 2015). However, research into the validity of prediction (c) has so far delivered mixed results. As such, while some limit L1 influence to beginner and intermediate levels (e.g., Cadierno& Ruiz, 2004; Cadierno, 2010; Song et al., 2016), others have extended this influence to advanced levels as well (e.g., Stam, 2010; Alonso, 2011; Larrañaga, Treffers-Dallers, Tidball, & Ortega, 2011).