This article shows how language processing is intimately tuned to input frequency. Examples are given of frequency effects in the processing of phonology and phonotactics, reading, spelling, lexis, morphosyntax, formulaic language, language comprehension, grammaticality, sentence production, and syntax. The implications of these effects for the representations and developmental sequence of SLA are discussed.

Usage-based theories hold that the acquisition of language is exemplar based. It is the piecemeal learning of many thousands of constructions and the frequency-biased abstraction of regularities within them. Determinants of pattern productivity include the power law of practice, cue competition and constraint satisfaction, connectionist learning, and effects of type and token frequency. The regularities of language emerge from experience as categories and prototypical patterns.

The typical route of emergence of constructions is from formula, through low-scope pattern, to construction. Frequency plays a large part in explaining sociolinguistic variation and language change. Learners’ sensitivity to frequency in all domains has implications for theories of implicit and explicit learning and their interactions.

The review concludes by considering the history of frequency as an explanatory concept in theoretical and applied linguistics, its 40 years of exile, and its necessary reinstatement as a bridging variable which binds the different schools of language acquisition research.

C:\Documents and Settings\Tom Cobb\Desktop\ellis.txt
1516 bytes
208 words

NATURAL ORDER this article shows how language processing is intimately tuned to input frequency examples are given of frequency effects in the processing of phonology and phonotactics reading spelling lexis morphosyntax formulaic language language comprehension grammaticality sentence production and syntax the implications of these effects for the representations and developmental sequence of sla are discussed usage based theories hold that the acquisition of language is exemplar based it is the piecemeal learning of many thousands of constructions and the frequency biased abstraction of regularities within them determinants of pattern productivity include the power law of practice cue competition and constraint satisfaction connectionist learning and effects of type and token frequency the regularities of language emerge from experience as categories and prototypical patterns the typical route of emergence of constructions is from formula through low scope pattern to construction frequency pl ays a large part in explaining sociolinguistic variation and language change learners’ sensitivity to frequency in all domains has implications for theories of implicit and explicit learning and their interactions the review concludes by considering the history of frequency as an explanatory concept in theoretical and applied linguistics its years of exile and its necessary reinstatement as a bridging variable which binds the different schools of language acquisition research

NATURAL FREQ ORDER this_1 article_1 shows_1 how_1 language_7 processing_2 is_4 intimately_1 tuned_1 to_3 input_1 frequency_7 examples_1 are_2 given_1 of_18 effects_3 in_4 the_12 phonology_1 and_13 phonotactics_1 reading_1 spelling_1 lexis_1 morphosyntax_1 formulaic_1 comprehension_1 grammaticality_1 sentence_1 production_1 syntax_1 implications_2 these_1 for_2 representations_1 developmental_1 sequence_1 sla_1 discussed_1 usage_1 based_2 theories_2 hold_1 that_1 acquisition_2 exemplar_1 it_1 piecemeal_1 learning_3 many_1 thousands_1 constructions_2 biased_1 abstraction_1 regularities_2 within_1 them_1 determinants_1 pattern_2 productivity_1 include_1 power_1 law_1 practice_1 cue_1 competition_1 constraint_1 satisfaction_1 connectionist_1 type_1 token_1 emerge_1 from_2 experience_1 as_3 categories_1 prototypical_1 patterns_1 typical_1 route_1 emergence_1 formula_1 through_1 low_1 scope_1 construction_1 plays_1 a_2 large_1 part_1 explaining_1 sociolinguistic_1 variation_1 change_1 sensitivity_1 all_1 domains_1 has_1 implicit_1 explicit_1 their_1 interactions_1 review_1 concludes_1 by_1 considering_1 history_1 an_1 explanatory_1 concept_1 theoretical_1 applied_1 linguistics_1 its_2 years_1 exile_1 necessary_1 reinstatement_1 bridging_1 variable_1 which_1 binds_1 different_1 schools_1

ALPHA ORDER a a abstraction acquisition acquisition all an and and and and and and and and and and and and and applied are are article as as as ays based based biased binds bridging by categories change competition comprehension concept concludes connectionist considering constraint construction constructions constructions cue determinants developmental different discussed domains effects effects effects emerge emergence examples exemplar exile experience explaining explanatory explicit for for formula formulaic frequency frequency frequency frequency frequency frequency frequency from from given grammaticality has history hold how implications implications implicit in in in in include input interactions intimately is is is is it its its language language language language language language language large law learners’ learning learning learning lexis linguistics low many morphosyntax necessary of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of part pattern pattern patterns phonology phonotactics piecemeal pl power practice processing processing production productivity prototypical reading regularities regularities reinstatement representations research review route satisfaction schools scope sensitivity sentence sequence shows sla sociolinguistic spelling syntax that the the the the the the the the the the the the their them theoretical theories theories these this thousands through to to to token tuned type typical usage variable variation which within years

ALPHA FREQ ORDER a_2 abstraction_1 acquisition_2 all_1 an_1 and_13 applied_1 are_2 article_1 as_3 ays_1 based_2 biased_1 binds_1 bridging_1 by_1 categories_1 change_1 competition_1 comprehension_1 concept_1 concludes_1 connectionist_1 considering_1 constraint_1 construction_1 constructions_2 cue_1 determinants_1 developmental_1 different_1 discussed_1 domains_1 effects_3 emerge_1 emergence_1 examples_1 exemplar_1 exile_1 experience_1 explaining_1 explanatory_1 explicit_1 for_2 formula_1 formulaic_1 frequency_7 from_2 given_1 grammaticality_1 has_1 history_1 hold_1 how_1 implications_2 implicit_1 in_4 include_1 input_1 interactions_1 intimately_1 is_4 it_1 its_2 language_7 large_1 law_1 learning_3 lexis_1 linguistics_1 low_1 many_1 morphosyntax_1 necessary_1 of_18 part_1 pattern_2 patterns_1 phonology_1 phonotactics_1 piecemeal_1 pl_1 power_1 practice_1 processing_2 production_1 productivity_1 prototypical_1 reading_1 regularities_2 reinstatement_1 representations_1 review_1 route_1 satisfaction_1 schools_1 scope_1 sensitivity_1 sentence_1 sequence_1 shows_1 sla_1 sociolinguistic_1 spelling_1 syntax_1 that_1 the_12 their_1 them_1 theoretical_1 theories_2 these_1 this_1 thousands_1 through_1 to_3 token_1 tuned_1 type_1 typical_1 usage_1 variable_1 variation_1 which_1 within_1 years_1

FREQ ORDER 18_of 13_and 12_the 7_frequency 7_language 4_is 4_in 3_to 3_learning 3_as 3_effects 2_a 2_processing 2_acquisition 2_for 2_constructions 2_regularities 2_are 2_theories 2_from 2_based 2_implications 2_its 2_pattern 1_abstraction 1_all 1_an 1_applied 1_article 1_ays 1_biased 1_binds 1_bridging 1_by 1_categories 1_change 1_competition 1_comprehension 1_concept 1_concludes 1_connectionist 1_considering 1_constraint 1_construction 1_cue 1_determinants 1_developmental 1_different 1_discussed 1_domains 1_emerge 1_emergence 1_examples 1_exemplar 1_exile 1_experience 1_explaining 1_explanatory 1_explicit 1_formula 1_formulaic 1_given 1_grammaticality 1_has 1_history 1_hold 1_how 1_interactions 1_lexis 1_linguistics 1_low 1_many 1_morphosyntax 1_necessary 1_input 1_part 1_it 1_patterns 1_phonology 1_phonotactics 1_piecemeal 1_pl 1_power 1_practice 1_intimately 1_production 1_productivity 1_prototypical 1_reading 1_large 1_reinstatement 1_representations 1_review 1_route 1_satisfaction 1_schools 1_scope 1_sensitivity 1_sentence 1_sequence 1_shows 1_sla 1_sociolinguistic 1_spelling 1_syntax 1_that 1_include 1_their 1_them 1_theoretical 1_law 1_these 1_this 1_thousands 1_through 1_implicit 1_token 1_tuned 1_type 1_typical 1_usage 1_variable 1_variation 1_which 1_within 1_years