Pictorial Representations in L2 acquisition of Motion Verbs

Abstract

This paper aimed at observing the differences on L2 acquisition of motion verbs between groups using different visual aids (images/GIFs). Research has shown that speech and thought are linked and; hence, differences in the construction of motion verbs in speech are reflected in the mind. The study, based on research on gestures, assumed that two static images which depict path and manner separately are processed by the brain in two units; meanwhile, GIFs are processed in one. The first reflects patterns characteristic from Spanish and the second those from English. The main goal was to examine whether the use of visual aids which associate with L2 or L1 patterns would help learners to reach L2 TFS. 21 Spanish children learning English were tested. Results showed a better performance of those who used visual aids which resembled the lexical patterns of the L2; however, these differences were not statistically significant.