Kitaek Kim
Biographic Data
| ID | 3843918 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kitaek Kim |
| GIVEN NAMES | Kitaek |
| FAMILY NAME | Kim |
| SIGNATURE | KIM K |
| AFFILIATIONS | Seoul National University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1242-034X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 14 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Adult L2 Maintenance After the End of Formal Instruction
Aims and Objectives: This study investigates foreign-language (FL) maintenance after formal instruction has ended, examining how peak proficiency (PP), the period of reduced L2 use (RP), and post-instruction language experience (LE) predict the maintenance of instructed L2 English among Korean adults. Design: A cross-sectional design was adopted. PP was operationalized using participants’ English level on South Korea’s nationwide College Scholast…
Influence of topic-prominent L1s on the use of L2 English copula be
This study explores the influence of first language (L1) on the acquisition of second language (L2) English, specifically examining the use of copula be as a topic marker. Although prior research suggests that L1 transfer may impact L2 acquisition of copula be , the evidence remains inconclusive. To address this issue, the study analyzes the use of be in L2 English spoken by learners with topic-prominent L1s (viz., Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Kor…
Effects of goals and strategies on predictive processing
There is ongoing debate about whether prediction is driven solely by bottom-up associative links or is modulated by top-down goals and strategies. The current study attempts to address this issue by investigating the role of top-down factors in Korean speakers’ predictive processing of honorific agreement. Two visual-world eye-tracking experiments were conducted, analyzing participants’ anticipatory eye movements while manipulating two top-down f…
Prediction of there -associated nouns based on verbs in expletive sentences
This study examines the effects of cue validity, proficiency, and immersion experience on the predictive processing of there -associated nouns in expletive sentences. A visual-world eye-tracking task manipulated the validity of the predictive cue by varying verb number (singular; plural) and aspect (simple; perfect): For example, There {is/are/has been/have been} just {one apple/two apples}. The results show that both L1 speakers and L2 learners …
The role of processing goals in second language predictive processing
This study investigates how second language (L2) learners engage in prediction based on their processing goals. While prediction is a prominent feature of human sentence comprehension in first–language speakers, it remains less understood when and how L2 learners engage in predictive processing. By conducting a visual–world eye–tracking experiment involving Chinese–speaking L2 learners of Korean, we tested the hypothesis that L2 learners determin…
The influence of Cefr in South Korea’s 2022 National English Curriculum
While the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages was originally developed for the European context, its influence has extended to other regions. The present paper highlights this growing influence by reporting on revisions to grammar in South Korea’s National English Curriculum based on CEFR criteria and the related CEFR-based English Grammar Profile resource. Specifically focusing on Appendix 4 of the 2015 curriculum, which …
Effects of Lexical Frequency in Predictive Processing
This study explores how word frequency affects verb-mediated prediction in L1 and L2 speakers, using a visual-world eye-tracking task. By manipulating frequency of nouns within subjects (higher; lower) and type of verbs used as predictive cues (semantically restrictive; neutral) in sentences (e.g., The {doctor/surgeon} {opened/moved} the box), we investigated the impact of frequency of early-processed words on prediction, hypothesizing that highe…
Sensitivity to syntactic dependency formation in child second language processing
This study investigates whether child second language (L2) learners can use syntactic information during the processing of sentences involving unbounded dependencies and how their processing patterns compare to those of child monolinguals and adult L2 learners. Through a self-paced reading experiment involving the numeral quantifier (NQ) construction in Korean, we tested participants’ sensitivity to agreement violations between a noun phrase (NP)…
Sequential bilingual heritage children's L1 attrition in lexical retrieval
This study investigated the unresolved issue of potential sources of heritage language attrition. To test contributing effects of three learner variables – age of second language acquisition, length of residence, and language input – on heritage children's lexical retrieval accuracy and speed, we conducted a real-time word naming task with 68 children (age 11–14 years) living in South Korea who spoke either Chinese or Russian as a heritage langua…
The role of crosslinguistic morphological congruency and L2 proficiency in the L3 acquisition of English plural marking
Plural marking differs across languages. Some must mark plurality using an overt morpheme (e.g. English, Russian), while others mark it optionally (e.g. Korean) or lack an explicit plural morpheme (e.g. Chinese). This crosslinguistic difference in plural marking has received much attention in research exploring language transfer in the context of L2 acquisition, but little in the context of L3 acquisition. This study tests the effects of L1 and L…
Children's interpretation of negation and quantifier scope in L3 English
Languages differ in the preferences for the interpretation of the scope relation between negation and a quantifier. This study investigates the understudied issue of how interpretive preferences associated with a quantifier scope in learners’ L1 and L2 affect their scope interpretations in L3 acquisition. Based on the current models of L3 acquisition, we tested which language, L1 or L2, exerts a stronger effect on the L3 acquisition of quantifier…
L1 transfer in the interpretation of L2 reflexive pronouns by child learners of Korean
Aim: The current study explores first language (L1) transfer in child second language (L2) acquisition, testing whether L1-Chinese children learning L2 Korean show an advantage over L1-Russian children in the acquisition of Korean reflexives. Methodology: L1-Chinese and L1-Russian children with L2 Korean completed truth-value judgment tasks designed to explore their interpretation of the Korean reflexives caki and caki-casin in bi-clausal sentenc…
Learnability in the acquisition of the English tough construction by L1-Korean adult and child L2 learners
In the English tough construction (TC), knowledge of tough movement is necessary for target performance (the object-interpretation only; e.g. John i is easy to see e i ). The acquisition of the English TC raises a learnability problem for first-language (L1) Korean learners of English as a second language (L2): (1) Korean has no tough movement; (2) no input dictates that the ‘subject interpretation’ is disallowed in the English TC; and (3) no cla…
Case in Heritage Korean
In a series of five experiments with 31 Korean heritage children, we show that knowledge of case and the ability to use it must be evaluated with careful attention to multiple factors that can influence access to morphological information in the course of comprehension and production. The first two experiments, which compared the canonical SOV pattern with the non-canonical OSV pattern, employed picture-selection comprehension tasks to assess kno…
No prominent works on this page.
Case in Heritage Korean
In a series of five experiments with 31 Korean heritage children, we show that knowledge of case and the ability to use it must be evaluated with careful attention to multiple factors that can influence access to morphological information in the course of comprehension and production. The first two experiments, which compared the canonical SOV pattern with the non-canonical OSV pattern, employed picture-selection comprehension tasks to assess kno…
Learnability in the acquisition of the English tough construction by L1-Korean adult and child L2 learners
In the English tough construction (TC), knowledge of tough movement is necessary for target performance (the object-interpretation only; e.g. John i is easy to see e i ). The acquisition of the English TC raises a learnability problem for first-language (L1) Korean learners of English as a second language (L2): (1) Korean has no tough movement; (2) no input dictates that the ‘subject interpretation’ is disallowed in the English TC; and (3) no cla…
Children's interpretation of negation and quantifier scope in L3 English
Languages differ in the preferences for the interpretation of the scope relation between negation and a quantifier. This study investigates the understudied issue of how interpretive preferences associated with a quantifier scope in learners’ L1 and L2 affect their scope interpretations in L3 acquisition. Based on the current models of L3 acquisition, we tested which language, L1 or L2, exerts a stronger effect on the L3 acquisition of quantifier…
L1 transfer in the interpretation of L2 reflexive pronouns by child learners of Korean
Aim: The current study explores first language (L1) transfer in child second language (L2) acquisition, testing whether L1-Chinese children learning L2 Korean show an advantage over L1-Russian children in the acquisition of Korean reflexives. Methodology: L1-Chinese and L1-Russian children with L2 Korean completed truth-value judgment tasks designed to explore their interpretation of the Korean reflexives caki and caki-casin in bi-clausal sentenc…
Sequential bilingual heritage children's L1 attrition in lexical retrieval
This study investigated the unresolved issue of potential sources of heritage language attrition. To test contributing effects of three learner variables – age of second language acquisition, length of residence, and language input – on heritage children's lexical retrieval accuracy and speed, we conducted a real-time word naming task with 68 children (age 11–14 years) living in South Korea who spoke either Chinese or Russian as a heritage langua…
The role of crosslinguistic morphological congruency and L2 proficiency in the L3 acquisition of English plural marking
Plural marking differs across languages. Some must mark plurality using an overt morpheme (e.g. English, Russian), while others mark it optionally (e.g. Korean) or lack an explicit plural morpheme (e.g. Chinese). This crosslinguistic difference in plural marking has received much attention in research exploring language transfer in the context of L2 acquisition, but little in the context of L3 acquisition. This study tests the effects of L1 and L…
Sensitivity to syntactic dependency formation in child second language processing
This study investigates whether child second language (L2) learners can use syntactic information during the processing of sentences involving unbounded dependencies and how their processing patterns compare to those of child monolinguals and adult L2 learners. Through a self-paced reading experiment involving the numeral quantifier (NQ) construction in Korean, we tested participants’ sensitivity to agreement violations between a noun phrase (NP)…
Prediction of there -associated nouns based on verbs in expletive sentences
This study examines the effects of cue validity, proficiency, and immersion experience on the predictive processing of there -associated nouns in expletive sentences. A visual-world eye-tracking task manipulated the validity of the predictive cue by varying verb number (singular; plural) and aspect (simple; perfect): For example, There {is/are/has been/have been} just {one apple/two apples}. The results show that both L1 speakers and L2 learners …
The role of processing goals in second language predictive processing
This study investigates how second language (L2) learners engage in prediction based on their processing goals. While prediction is a prominent feature of human sentence comprehension in first–language speakers, it remains less understood when and how L2 learners engage in predictive processing. By conducting a visual–world eye–tracking experiment involving Chinese–speaking L2 learners of Korean, we tested the hypothesis that L2 learners determin…
The influence of Cefr in South Korea’s 2022 National English Curriculum
While the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages was originally developed for the European context, its influence has extended to other regions. The present paper highlights this growing influence by reporting on revisions to grammar in South Korea’s National English Curriculum based on CEFR criteria and the related CEFR-based English Grammar Profile resource. Specifically focusing on Appendix 4 of the 2015 curriculum, which …
Effects of Lexical Frequency in Predictive Processing
This study explores how word frequency affects verb-mediated prediction in L1 and L2 speakers, using a visual-world eye-tracking task. By manipulating frequency of nouns within subjects (higher; lower) and type of verbs used as predictive cues (semantically restrictive; neutral) in sentences (e.g., The {doctor/surgeon} {opened/moved} the box), we investigated the impact of frequency of early-processed words on prediction, hypothesizing that highe…
Adult L2 Maintenance After the End of Formal Instruction
Aims and Objectives: This study investigates foreign-language (FL) maintenance after formal instruction has ended, examining how peak proficiency (PP), the period of reduced L2 use (RP), and post-instruction language experience (LE) predict the maintenance of instructed L2 English among Korean adults. Design: A cross-sectional design was adopted. PP was operationalized using participants’ English level on South Korea’s nationwide College Scholast…
Influence of topic-prominent L1s on the use of L2 English copula be
This study explores the influence of first language (L1) on the acquisition of second language (L2) English, specifically examining the use of copula be as a topic marker. Although prior research suggests that L1 transfer may impact L2 acquisition of copula be , the evidence remains inconclusive. To address this issue, the study analyzes the use of be in L2 English spoken by learners with topic-prominent L1s (viz., Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Kor…
Effects of goals and strategies on predictive processing
There is ongoing debate about whether prediction is driven solely by bottom-up associative links or is modulated by top-down goals and strategies. The current study attempts to address this issue by investigating the role of top-down factors in Korean speakers’ predictive processing of honorific agreement. Two visual-world eye-tracking experiments were conducted, analyzing participants’ anticipatory eye movements while manipulating two top-down f…
Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism (11 works) · Linguistics (10 works) · Psychology (10 works) · Computer Science (9 works) · Second Language Acquisition and Learning (8 works) · Artificial Intelligence (7 works) · Reading and Literacy Development (6 works) · Language Development and Disorders (5 works) · Cognitive psychology (4 works) · Natural language processing (4 works)