This study investigates the extent to which working memory capacity is related to the production and acquisition of a syntactic structure of L2 speech. Information Processing Theory guides the research, as the authors assume the operation of a dual code cognitive system made up of a rule-based and a memory-based system (SKEHAN, 1998) responsible for analyzing and synthesizing language, respectively. L2 acquisition is also discussed in terms of processing input for meaning and form. Overall results show that working memory capacity is related to the production and acquisition of a syntactic structure in L2 speech, but this relationship is stronger for acquisition.
working memory capacity; L2 speech production and acquisition
