What Do L2 Writers Think While Typing? An Exploratory Study of Parallel Processing in Computer-based L2 Writing

Studies have suggested that the writing process is a mixture of lowand high-level processing for multiple level decision making, which is performed either during pauses or motor execution. Some studies have found that high-level processing is mostly conducted during pauses, but when high-level processing is performed in parallel with motor execution, it is called parallel processing. The purpose of this study is to examine parallel processing in computer-based L2 writing and to identify types of high-level processing concurrent with typing. This study analyzed keylogging data of the L2 English writing of three different proficiency groups and found that only advanced L2 writers were able to perform parallel processing. The parallel events in L2 writing mainly include two components: linguistic and conceptual processing. Linguistic processing is mostly performed in translating episodes where a writer translates one’s ideas into L2 and evaluates the translation in terms of adequacy and acceptability. Also, advanced L2 writers engage in conceptual processing concurrently with typing, mostly at the ideational and epistemic/rhetorical levels. It is hoped that this study will prompt future studies to investigate the real-time process of writing and provide insights on parallel processing in L2 writing.