Reverse conceptual transfer from verb-framed L3 to satellite-framed L2 in motion event construal: evidence from verbal production and eye-tracking

Research on motion event typology has revealed systematic crosslinguistic differences in the encoding of Manner and Path, which shape speakers’ attention and conceptualization during speech production and may give rise to crosslinguistic influence. However, little research has examined the influence of a third language (L3) on a second language (L2) in motion event construal, particularly in multilingual contexts or in studies combining linguistic production with eye-tracking measures. Addressing this gap, the present study investigates whether experience with a verb-framed L3 influences motion event construal in satellite-framed L2 English among Chinese learners. Thirty Chinese-English bilinguals and thirty Chinese-English speakers with experience in a verb-framed L3 completed a video-based oral description task while their eye movements were recorded. The findings provide partial support for L3-to-L2 reverse conceptual transfer. In verbal production, trilingual learners were less likely than bilinguals to encode Manner information, whereas Path encoding did not differ reliably between groups. In the eye-tracking data, trilinguals showed more verb-framed-like online processing of Manner and Path information, reflected in shorter Manner-related fixation duration, longer Path-related fixation duration, and lower Manner/Path ratios. Neither L2 English proficiency nor L3 proficiency significantly predicted the linguistic or eye-tracking outcomes.