What Changes When the Interlocutor Is an AI? Interactional Fluency and Linguistic Uptake in L2 Spoken Dialogue

2026-06-20

AI Summary

This study investigates the differential effects of AI versus human interlocutors on second-language learners’ spoken interactional fluency and linguistic uptake. Seventy-eight German learners completed a “spot-the-difference” task with both AI and human partners. Integrating ASR-aligned speech transcripts, dialogue act annotations, and quantitative measures of fluency and uptake, the research reveals—for the first time—that AI-mediated interaction exhibits a “supportive monologue” pattern. Although AI interactions reduced learners’ speaking time, they enhanced within-turn fluency and syntactic priming, indicating greater syntactic mimicry. The structured input provided by AI also facilitated short-term linguistic uptake. Moreover, learners’ attitudes toward AI improved significantly, with self-reported satisfaction strongly predicted by their perceived production fluency.

Abstract

Voice-based AI systems are increasingly used for L2 speaking practice, but evaluations rarely characterize the interactional processes they create. We analyze 78 university learners of German across four sites completing a counterbalanced spot-the-difference task with both a human peer and a real-time AI partner. From diarized ASR transcripts, we extract measures of interactional fluency, linguistic uptake, and learner experience. Human dialogue was faster and more balanced, with many short turns; AI dialogue resembled supported monologue, with fewer, longer turns, reduced learner floor share, and greater within-turn fluency. The AI's verbose, syntactically regular input was associated with greater short-term uptake and stronger syntactic priming after controlling for input volume. Attitudes toward AI improved after the task, and satisfaction was predicted by production fluency rather than uptake. The results show complementary affordances for AI and human dialogue in L2 practice.

Problem

• interactional fluency
• linguistic uptake
• L2 spoken dialogue
• AI interlocutor
• second language acquisition

Innovation

• interactional fluency
• linguistic uptake
• syntactic priming
• AI-mediated dialogue
• L2 speaking practice