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ISSN : 1226-4822(Print)
The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea Vol.34 No.2 pp.233-265
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14353/sjk.2026.34.2.08

The Pruning of Passive Recipiency: A Comparative Study of Weak Continuer Usage Among Korean EFL Learners and Native English Speakers

Andrew White
Associate Professor, Business English Department, Induk University; 12 Choansan-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01878

Abstract

The production of weak continuers is a vital yet under-researched component of interactional competence within discourse marker (DM) research. This study investigates the intersection of language immersion and sociocultural transfer by examining the active listening behaviors in three distinct cohorts: Korean high-level EFL learners with no abroad residence experience (NA), Korean learners with significant immersion in English-speaking environments (A), and native English speakers (N). Utilizing an information-exchange and a decision-making task, the research analyzes the frequency and pragmatic functioning of vocalic tokens (mmm, mm-hmm, uh-huh). Findings indicate that the NA group produced a significantly higher volume of tokens (45.1%), reflecting a sociocultural "supportive burden" transferred from L1 Korean norms. In contrast, the N and A groups demonstrated a more streamlined interactional style, prioritizing targeted "go-ahead" signals over passive recipiency. Crucially, the A group exhibited a "pruning" effect, where prolonged exposure to native-speaker norms facilitated a recalibration of listener behavior toward target-language benchmarks. Furthermore, task complexity acted as a pragmatic filter; learners significantly reduced feedback under high cognitive loads, whereas native speakers maintained interactional stability. These results offer insights into the developmental trajectory of L2 listenership and suggest pedagogical strategies for fostering interactional fluency.

초록

Vol. 40 No. 4 (2022.12)

Journal Abbreviation j. Korea Saf. Manag. Sci.
Frequency Published four times annually in March, June, September, and December
Doi Prefix 10.14353/sjk.
Year of Launching 1993
Publisher The Sociolinguistic Society of Korea
Indexed/Tracked/Covered By

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