L2 Working Memory Capacity and L2 Reading Skill
Abstract
Working memory capacity refers to the ability to store and process information simultaneously in real time and has been shown to correlate highly with first language (L1) reading skill. This study examines the sensitivity of second language (L2) working memory capacity to differences in reading skill among advanced L2 learners. The index of working memory capacity used was the reading span test (Daneman & Carpenter, 1980). Subjects with larger working memory capacities scored higher on measures of reading skill, in contrast with the lack of strong correlations between measures of passive short-term storage (memory for strings of random words or digits) and the same reading measures. This result is consistent with an interpretation of the reading span test as an index of working memory capacity, in which capacity is defined functionally in terms of a trade-off between active processing and storage. Issues involved in investigating working memory capacity are discussed and the role of capacity limitations in models of L2 comprehension is considered.
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Individual differences in sentence span relate to language learning aptitude: people with better sentence span are better language learners in both L1 and L2.
“People with better sentence span are better language learners, both in L1 ~Daneman & Carpenter, 1980;Daneman & Case, 1981;Daneman & Green, 1986;Daneman & Merikle, 1996;Engle, Tuholski, Laughlin, &Conway, 1999! andin L2 ~Harrington &Sawyer, 1992!+”
From AT THE INTERFACE: DYNAMIC INTERACTIONS OF EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE (2005) · cites this paper as Harrington & Sawyer, 1992
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References 23 · Cited by 484
- Authors
- Harrington, M., & Sawyer, M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
- International University of Japan (JP)
- Venue
- Studies in Second Language Acquisition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1992-03
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 25-38
- ISSN
- 0272-2631 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-1545
- OpenAlex
- W2042820681
- Cited by
- 484
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 2.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Studies in Second Language Acquisition (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Keywords
- working memory capacity, second language reading, reading span test, short-term memory, advanced L2 learners
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