Repeat after me?

Mapping The Relation of Overimitation to Foreign-Language Learning Aptitude

Abstract

We investigated whether overimitation constitutes a previously unrecognised component of second language (L2) aptitude by examining its relationship with L2 proficiency, established aptitude measures, and domain-general cognitive abilities. Advanced L2 learners completed a novel language-based adaptation of the classic puzzle-box overimitation paradigm alongside measures of grammatical and collocational knowledge, implicit sequence learning, working memory, attentional control, and language aptitude. Graphical modelling revealed three distinct clusters. Linguistic proficiency was associated with grammatical sensitivity, collocational
knowledge, and implicit sequence learning, whereas production-based language imitation grouped with explicit aptitude and executive resources. In contrast, procedural overimitation and self-reported mimicry formed an independent dimension, showing little association with either linguistic proficiency or established aptitude measures. These findings suggest that overimitation reflects a socio-motivational disposition that is functionally distinct from the mechanisms supporting L2 learning and linguistic knowledge.