Definition:
Modified input is language that has been adjusted or adapted to be more accessible to second language learners. Modifications can include simplification (shorter sentences, basic vocabulary), elaboration (added redundancy, definitions, paraphrasing), and interactional adjustments (repetitions, comprehension checks, slower pace). Modified input is the practical mechanism through which comprehensible input is achieved.
In-Depth Explanation
Types of input modification:
| Type | How it works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simplification | Reduce complexity — shorter sentences, simpler vocabulary, basic grammar | “The hegemonic discourse…” → “The powerful group’s way of talking…” |
| Elaboration | Add redundancy without reducing complexity — paraphrase, define, repeat | “She’s bilingual — she speaks two languages, English and Spanish.” |
| Repetition | Say the same thing again, sometimes with slight variation | “Open the door. The door. Please open it.” |
| Slower speech | Reduce speaking rate, add pauses | Natural pace 150 wpm → modified 100 wpm |
| Stress and emphasis | Highlight key words prosodically | “Put the book ON the TABLE.” |
Who modifies input?
- Teachers → Teacher talk (deliberate simplification in classrooms)
- Parents → Caretaker speech (modifications for children)
- Native speakers → Foreigner talk (automatic adjustments when speaking to non-native speakers)
- Materials designers → Graded readers, simplified news (NHK Easy News for Japanese)
Simplification vs. Elaboration debate:
Research has found that elaborated input may be more beneficial for acquisition than simplified input:
- Simplified input removes potentially useful language data (learners never encounter complex forms)
- Elaborated input maintains the original forms but adds enough context for comprehension
- Elaboration provides more exposure to natural language while making it accessible
Example (original):
“The mitochondria are the organelles responsible for cellular respiration.”
Simplified:
“The mitochondria make energy for the cell.”
Elaborated:
“The mitochondria are the organelles — the small parts inside a cell — that are responsible for cellular respiration, which means they produce the energy the cell needs.”
The elaborated version preserves “organelles” and “cellular respiration” as learning opportunities, while the simplified version removes them entirely.
Related Terms
See Also
Research
- Long, M. H. (1983). Native speaker/non-native speaker conversation and the negotiation of comprehensible input. Applied Linguistics, 4(2), 126–141. — Foundational work on how native speakers modify input in interaction.
- Oh, S.-Y. (2001). Two types of input modification and EFL reading comprehension. TESOL Quarterly, 35(1), 69–96. — Empirical comparison of simplification vs. elaboration effects on comprehension.