Eye-Tracking experiment on the processing of idiomatic expressions

This experimental data was created in the context of the project B9 Getting a Grip on Non-Literal Meaning; The Dynamics of Understanding; Idiomatic Expressions in Language Learners. It is an eye-tracking experiment.

In this experiment we tested online processing mechnisms for idiomatic expressions in native adults, first language learners (ten and thirteen years of age) and second language learners. Participants listened to idiom fragments missing the final word. At the same time participants viewed words displayed on the screen that were either (i) correct idiomatic completions, (ii) words semantically related to the correct idiomatic completion or (iii) unrelated words. We measured the amount and time-course of fixations to displayed words while listening to idiom fragments. Using this paradigm we aimed to measure (1) whether participant groups predict idiom-final words and (2) whether they activate constituent meanings within idioms.