The application of condition C on cataphoric pronoun resolution for Chinese learners of English: evidence from eye-tracking during reading

Previous research shows that encountering cataphoric pronouns triggers an active search for antecedents, a process constrained by Binding Condition C, which prohibits co-reference when the potential antecedent is c-commanded by the pronoun. While most studies have focused on L1 speakers, findings concerning L2 learners remain inconclusive. This study employs eye-tracking and an offline task to examine the application of Condition C among Chinese learners of English. Results reveal that although Chinese learners of English initiate an active search and exhibit awareness of Condition C in offline tasks, they fail to apply this constraint during online processing. We conclude that while Chinese learners of English possess explicit knowledge of Condition C, limitations in syntactic representation and insufficient exposure hinder its real-time implementation.