Is overt repetition critical to expressive word learning? The role of overt repetition in word learning with and without semantics

Abstract

ABSTRACTFive experiments examined whether overt repetition (i.e., saying a word aloud) during exposure is critical to the expressive learning of new words. When participants did not engage in overt repetition during exposure, they nevertheless exhibited clear expressive learning, both with and without an accompanying semantics, indicating that overt repetition is not critical to expressive word learning. In addition, learning without overt repetition did not differ from learning with overt repetition, suggesting that overt repetition confers no benefit for learning in this situation. These results are discussed in relation to previous studies, and it is suggested that benefits of repetition may accrue primarily in second language rather than in first language word learning.