This study investigates the validity of syntactic priming as a measure of implicit language aptitude. Syntactic priming refers to the tendency to reproduce a linguistic structure due to a previous exposure to the structure. The validity of the construct was verified by collating evidence for divergent validity—whether it is dissociable from explicit aptitude; convergent validity—whether it is correlated with other measures of implicit aptitude; and predictive validity—whether it is predictive of learning attainment. One hundred sixty-six university EFL learners completed three tests of implicit aptitude: syntactic priming, sequence learning, and LLAMA_D; three tests of explicit aptitude: LLAMA_B, _E, and _F; and three tests of L2 proficiency: untimed grammaticality judgment, metalinguistic knowledge, and elicited imitation. The results showed that syntactic priming was dissociable from explicit aptitude, but it failed to converge with the other measures of implicit aptitude, and it also failed to predict L2 proficiency. The results also showed that priming was negatively correlated with sequence learning and that sequence learning was a negative predictor of learners’ metalinguistic knowledge. On the other hand, the construct validity of explicit aptitude was strong. The results suggest the multidimensionality of implicit aptitude and the need for more research into the construct validity of syntactic priming as a cognitive ability for implicit learning.

中文翻译：

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探索句法启动作为内隐语言能力的衡量标准

本研究调查了句法启动作为内隐语言能力的衡量标准的有效性。句法启动是指由于先前暴露于结构而再现语言结构的趋势。该构念的有效性通过整理不同有效性的证据来验证——它是否与明确的能力相分离；收敛效度——是否与其他内隐能力测量相关；和预测效度——它是否可以预测学习成绩。一百六十六名大学英语学习者完成了三项内隐能力测试：句法启动、序列学习和LLAMA_D；三个显性能力测试：LLAMA_B、_E 和 _F；L2熟练度的三个测试：不定时语法判断，元语言知识和引发模仿。结果表明，句法启动与外显能力相分离，但未能与内隐能力的其他测量值趋同，也未能预测二语熟练度。结果还表明，启动与序列学习呈负相关，序列学习是学习者元语言知识的负向预测因子。另一方面，显性能力的结构效度很强。结果表明，内隐能力具有多维性，需要对句法启动作为内隐学习的认知能力的结构有效性进行更多研究。结果还表明，启动与序列学习呈负相关，序列学习是学习者元语言知识的负向预测因子。另一方面，显性能力的结构效度很强。结果表明，内隐能力具有多维性，需要对句法启动作为内隐学习的认知能力的结构有效性进行更多研究。结果还表明，启动与序列学习呈负相关，序列学习是学习者元语言知识的负向预测因子。另一方面，显性能力的结构效度很强。结果表明，内隐能力具有多维性，需要对句法启动作为内隐学习的认知能力的结构有效性进行更多研究。