Working memory capacity and the retention of L2 vocabulary

Abstract

This sfudy examines the relationshipbetween working memory capacity and vocabularyretention in English as a L2. The study wasconducted with seventeen advanced speakers ofEnglish. Statistical analyses revealed that workingmemory capacity correlates significantiy with L2vocabulary retention, This correlation wasinterpreted as an indication that higher spans arebetter able to comprehend and produce newvocabulary items in a L2 than lower spans. DOI: 10.28998/0103-6858.2007v1n39p55-74