The present study investigates third language (L3) learners’ processing of Chinese subject and object relative clauses in a supportive context. Using a self-paced reading task, we tested native Italian L3 learners of Mandarin Chinese and native Chinese speakers. The results showed that the L3 learners read significantly more slowly than the native speakers in all the target regions. Also, in the head noun region, they read object relative clauses significantly more slowly compared to subject relative clauses, indicating a preference for the latter. By contrast, for the native speakers, no significant differences were observed between subject and object relative clauses in any of the target regions. The L3 learners’ performance offers support for the Structural Distance Hypothesis over the Dependency Locality Theory, and the contrast between the two populations indicates that context is at play in the processing of relative clauses.

本研究调查了在支持性语境下第三语言（L3）学习者对汉语主语和宾语相对从句的处理。使用自定进度的阅读任务，我们测试了母语为意大利语的L3三级汉语学习者和讲汉语的母语者。结果表明，在所有目标地区，三级学习者的阅读速度明显慢于母语使用者。而且，在主名词区域中，与主语相对从句相比，他们读宾语相对从句的速度明显慢得多，这表明他们偏爱后者。相比之下，对于母语为母语的人，在任何目标区域中的主语和宾语相对从句之间都没有观察到显着差异。L3学习者的表现为依赖于局部性理论的结构距离假说提供了支持，