English sentences with double center-embedded clauses are read faster when they are made ungrammatical by removing one of the required verb phrases. This phenomenon is known as the missing-VP effect. German and Dutch speakers do not experience the missing-VP effect when reading their native language, but they do when reading English as a second language (L2). We investigate whether the missing-VP effect when reading L2 English occurs in native Dutch speakers because their knowledge of English is similar to that of native English speakers (the high exposure account), or because of the difficulty of L2 reading (the low proficiency account). In an eye-tracking study, we compare the size of the missing-VP effect between native Dutch and native English participants, and across native Dutch participants with varying L2 English proficiency and exposure. Results provide evidence for both accounts, suggesting that both native-like knowledge of English and L2 reading difficulty play a role.

带有双中心嵌入从句的英语句子在通过删除一个必需的动词短语而变得不合语法时会更快地阅读。这种现象被称为缺失 VP 效应。德语和荷兰语人士在阅读母语时不会体验到缺失 VP 效应，但在将英语作为第二语言 (L2) 阅读时会体验到。我们调查了母语为荷兰语的人在阅读 L2 英语时的缺失 VP 效应是因为他们的英语知识与母语为英语的人相似（高暴露账户），还是因为 L2 阅读困难（低熟练度账户））。在一项眼动追踪研究中，我们比较了荷兰语母语和英语母语参与者之间，以及具有不同 L2 英语水平和接触程度的荷兰本土参与者之间缺失 VP 效应的大小。结果为这两种说法都提供了证据，表明类似母语的英语知识和 L2 阅读困难都起作用。