Exploring the Influence of Syntactic Structures on English Syntactic Priming

Abstract: English syntactic structures are essential components in the process of learning English as a second language (ESL) and play a critical role in the acquisition process. Based on previous research, this paper discusses the impact of syntactic structures on English L2 syntactic priming among Chinese learners from three perspectives: research paradigms, priming structures, and the factors influencing priming effects. The findings indicate that, given syntactic structure interchangeability, different syntactic structures exhibit varying degrees of priming effects. Key factors such as L2 proficiency, syntactic usage preferences, and language structureincluding both structural differences within English and similarities between the learner's native language and Englishsignificantly affect the extent of these priming effects. These insights not only contribute to further research on English L2 syntactic priming but also provide practical guidance for ESL teaching, highlighting the importance of understanding these dynamics to improve language acquisition and instructional strategies. It also enables English as a second language learners to fully understand the mechanisms of syntactic priming effects, providing them with scientific learning methods, thereby allowing them to learn English more efficiently.