BEYOND EXPLICIT RULE LEARNING: Automatizing Second Language Morphosyntax
Abstract
This study is a fine-grained analysis of extensive empirical data on the automatization of explicitly learned rules of morphosyntax in a second language. Sixty-one subjects were taught four morphosyntactic rules and 32 vocabulary items in an artificial language. After they had reached criterion on a set of metalinguistic tests of grammar and vocabulary, they engaged in systematic, computer-controlled comprehension and production practice for 8 weeks. Comprehension practice consisted of choosing between pictures displayed on the computer screen to match a sentence; production practice consisted of typing the correct sentence corresponding to a picture. All subjects were taught the same rules and then practiced them, and all subjects had the same amount of comprehension and production practice, but which rules were practiced in comprehension and which in production varied between groups. Results show that the learning of morphosyntactic rules is highly skill-specific and that these skills develop very gradually over time, following the same power function learning curve as the acquisition of other cognitive skills. These results are consistent with current skill acquisition theory.
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With practice, performance times decrease following the power law of practice.
“With practice, behavioral indicators of skill acquisition, especially performance times, are known to decrease following the power law of practice (DeKeyser, 1997, 2020; see Newell & Rosenbloom, 1981, for initial evidence in cognitive psychology).”
From Testing the three-stage model of second language skill acquisition (2025) · cites this paper as DeKeyser, 1997
DeKeyser suggests that the initial rapid decrease in performance times reflects the transition from declarative to procedural stage, and the subsequent incremental decrease reflects automatization.
“DeKeyser (1997,2001) suggests that the initial rapid decrease reflects the transition from the declarative to procedural stage (proceduralization), and the subsequent incremental decrease reflects smoothing out performances to automatize a behavior (production tuning).”
From Testing the three-stage model of second language skill acquisition (2025) · cites this paper as DeKeyser, 1997
The 18-trial estimate for the stage 1 to stage 2 transition in this study resembles DeKeyser's (1997) 16-trial estimate for proceduralization.
“this number (18 trials) resembles the estimate proposed by DeKeyser (1997), who reported in his experiment that participants required only 16 trials to proceduralize the target morphosyntactic rules.”
From Testing the three-stage model of second language skill acquisition (2025) · cites this paper as DeKeyser (1997)
DeKeyser (1997) reported that participants in his experiment required only 16 trials to proceduralize the target morphosyntactic rules.
“this number (18 trials) resembles the estimate proposed by DeKeyser (1997), who reported in his experiment that participants required only 16 trials to proceduralize the target morphosyntactic rules.”
From Testing the three-stage model of second language skill acquisition (2025) · cites this paper as DeKeyser (1997)
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Controlled and automatic human information processing: I. Detection, search, and attention.
Schneider, W., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1977) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.1.1 · Cited by 5,902 · see citing works
Rules and instances in foreign language learning: Interactions of explicit and implicit knowledge
Ellis, N. (1993) · European Journal of Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1080/09541449308520120 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
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Interactions between type of instruction and type of language feature: A meta-analysis
Spada, N., & Tomita, Y. (2010) · Language Learning · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9922.2010.00562.x · Cited by 746 · see citing works
de Jong, N., & Perfetti, C. A. (2011) · Language Learning · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9922.2010.00620.x · Cited by 250 · see citing works
Prompts and recasts: Differential effects on second language morphosyntax
Ammar, A. (2008) · Language Teaching Research · doi:10.1177/1362168807086287 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Effects of Fluency Training on the Application of Linguistic Operations in Writing
van Gelderen, A., & Oostdam, R. (2005) · L1-Educational Studies in Language and Literature · doi:10.1007/s10674-005-0332-z · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Testing the three-stage model of second language skill acquisition
Maie, R., & Godfroid, A. (2025) · Studies in Second Language Acquisition · doi:10.1017/s027226312500021x · Cited by 5 · see citing works
- Authors
- DeKeyser, R. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Corresponding author
- DeKeyser, Robert M.
- Venue
- Studies in Second Language Acquisition
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1997-06
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 195-221
- ISSN
- 0272-2631 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-1545
- OpenAlex
- W2165609943
- Cited by
- 473
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 61.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Studies in Second Language Acquisition (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- rule induction, morphosyntax, second language acquisition, skill acquisition theory, skill specificity, artificial languages, grammar instruction, vocabulary acquisition, metalinguistic awareness, automation
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