The role of age and proficiency in subtitle reading. An eye-tracking study

• Published in: System (Linköping) Vol. 67; pp. 77 - 86
• Main Author: Muñoz, Carmen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Age effects; English as a second language learning; Eye movements; Language proficiency; Reading processes; Second language reading; Subtitles & subtitling
• ISSN: 0346-251X; 1879-3282
• DOI: 10.1016/j.system.2017.04.015

Munoz explores the effects of age and proficiency on the reading behaviour of foreign language learners by using eye-tracking methodology. This study focuses on the two types of subtitling that foreign language learners are most likely to encounter in real-life situations (classroom, home): interlingual subtitling with the soundtrack in the L2 and the on-screen text in the L1 (L1 subtitles), and intralingual subtitling with the soundtrack in the L2 and the subtitles in the same language (also known as same-language subtitles or captions). This study addressed two research questions concerning the differences in subtitle reading behaviour between learners of different ages and proficiency levels. The first research question investigated the possible influence of age on eye movement behaviour when watching audiovisual material with L1 and L2 subtitles. The second research question dealt with differences in subtitle reading behaviour between beginner, intermediate and advanced learners of English.