Word Frequency Modulates the Selection of Semantic Access Pathways of Spoken Words in the Second Language

Most second language (L2) learners comprehend words more difficult in its spoken form than the written form (Bekleyen 2009). Based on the findings of previous studies, we assumed that word frequency and language proficiency may be two critical factors in spoken word identification. To investigate how these two factors modulate L2 spoken word identification, we recruited Chinese-English bilinguals with different English proficiency levels, and manipulated words’ orthographic consistency, and word frequency. Our results supported the phonological restructuring account, it suggested that only high frequency L2 spoken words can achieve phonological restructuring and rely on orthographic information to access meaning. The less frequently used word has a weak spelling-sound connection, leaving the primitive sound-meaning route the only choice. This effect may be unrelated to language proficiency, the order that orthographic and phonological information is acquired, or the language system. Altogether, these results revealed that Chinese-English bilinguals rely on both the direct route and the orthography-mediation route to process L2 spoken words. The choice of which route is modulated by word frequency.