The role of interaction in native speaker comprehension of nonnative speaker speech

Interaction has often been shown to have a positive effect on nonnative speakers' (NNS) comprehension of their second language (L2). Based on the fact that interaction gives learners an opportunity to modify their speech upon a signal of noncomprehension, it should also have a positive effect on native speakers' (NS) comprehension of NNSs. However, in a 1994 study, Gass and Varonis did not find that interaction led to better comprehension of NNSs by NSs in an information gap task. Because such a result has important implications for theory and practice, the present study attempted to replicate their results. Thirty dyads performed an information gap activity with and without interaction. The results show that interaction does indeed help NSs comprehend NNSs. This article discusses various reasons for the discrepancy between the results obtained in the Gass and Varonis study and those from the present study as well as the implications of this study for research methodology.