Pauses and hesitation phenomena in second language production
ISSN: 0019-0810
Year of publication: 2000
Issue: 127-128
Pages: 53-69
Type: Article
More publications in: ITL International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Abstract
This article focuses on the study of pauses in second language production by analysing the frequency of silent and filled pauses and their functions. It also examines the combination of pauses and other hesitation phenomena in second language production and it explores the relationship between pauses and language proficiency. The results confirm that pauses and hesitations are frequent phenomena in second language production and the individual variation in their occurrence. It was also found that pauses are often associated with other hesitation phenomena and that filled and silent pauses can have the same functions.