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Research Article

The Effects of Working Memory Capacity on the Use of Formulaic Language in L2 Speech Production

Shiyu XiaBeijing Foreign Studies University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Working memory (WM) has been widely acknowledged as a significant cognitive mechanism responsible for multiple tasks including information storage and processing. L2 oral production, as a complex cognitive activity, has been found to be restricted by working memory capacity (WMC). However, the specific aspects of L2 oral speech affected by WMC remain controversial due to methodological variations, which suggests the need of a mediating factor to reveal the underlying cognitive dynamic. In order to fill this gap, the current study focuses on a potential mediating variable, the use of formulaic language, which requires the involvement of WM and also proves to be an effective tool to mitigate cognitive load during L2 oral production. By comparing the low and high WM groups' performances in L2 impromptu speech in terms of the use of formulaic sequences, the study has found that the high WM group showed an overall higher frequency of the use of formulaic language, with a significant advantage in the frequency and diversity of polywords over the low WM group. Moreover, the errors in the speeches could be classified into interlingual, intralingual, redundancy, and blending ones. By delving into the causes of each type of errors, the retrospective interviews revealed that a larger WMC supported more efficient multitasking, greater attentional and inhibitory control, and more complex online processing, which contributed to high-level L2 oral production. The results offer implications for improving L2 learners' oral competence and serve as a lens into the interaction between WM and L2 oral performance.

Keywords: working memory; working memory capacity; formulaic language; L2 oral production
Published: April 13, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.32746
Volume: CHR Vol.107
pp. 15-25
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