Introduction to Experimental Linguistics

3Studying Linguistic Productions

This chapter presents various methods for studying the linguistic productions of speakers, namely through elicitation and repetition tasks. We start by discussing the differences that exist between the ability to produce and to understand language; and we argue that it is necessary to examine these two components of the language faculty separately, in order to have an overall picture of the functioning of a certain linguistic phenomenon. We then present the fundamental methodological differences which separate the observation of linguistic productions in a corpus and the experiments aimed at eliciting such productions. In the rest of the chapter, we introduce the different methods used for generating productions in an experimental context. We start with so-called free elicitation tasks, which imply a minimum level of constraint on productions. Then, we move on to constrained elicitation tasks and finally to repetition tasks, which imply an even greater control over production. In every case, we discuss the possibilities that these tasks offer for the study of language, as well as their limitations. We arrive at the conclusion that these tasks are complementary and that the most reliable method for studying linguistic productions is to combine them.

3.1. Differences between language comprehension and language production

Mastering language involves being able to use it appropriately for communicating with others, as well as decoding and interpreting ...