Aspectual interpretation and mass/count knowledge in Chinese-English bilinguals

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 468-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Yin ◽  
Beth Ann O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
Judgment Task ◽  
Semantic Interpretation ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Input Interface ◽  
Grammaticality Judgment ◽  
Recent Interest ◽  
Linguistic Input ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Chinese And English

Abstract Given recent interest in interface properties in bilingual acquisition, this study examined Chinese-English adolescent bilinguals' acquisition of English telicity – a property whose semantic interpretation (aspectual completion versus incompletion) is influenced by morphosyntax (mass/count distinction). Differences between Chinese and English exist in both mass/count (Chierchia, 1998) and telicity (Soh & Kuo, 2005). Despite existing L2 literature on telicity and mass/count, the relationship between these two areas in learning has not been adequately addressed. A naturalness rating task (on telicity) and a grammaticality judgment task (on mass/count) were administered on 120 bilingual participants (11 and 14 year olds). Our results overall show that mass/count knowledge was acquirable whereas telicity was only partially so. There was a small correlation between these two areas of knowledge. We discuss our results in terms of the role of linguistic input, interface variation, methodological issues, and the nature of telicity marking in Chinese.

scholarly journals Intonational effects on English scopally-ambiguous sentences

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-36
Author(s):  
Mien-Jen Wu ◽  
Tania Ionin
Keyword(s):  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Universal Quantifier ◽  
Sentential Negation ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Acceptability Judgment

This paper examines the effect of intonation contour on two types of scopally ambiguous constructions in English: configurations with a universal quantifier in subject position and sentential negation (e.g., Every horse didn’t jump) and configurations with quantifiers in both subject and object positions (e.g., A girl saw every boy). There is much prior literature on the relationship between the fall-rise intonation and availability of inverse scope with quantifier-negation configurations. The present study has two objectives: (1) to examine whether the role of intonation in facilitating inverse scope is restricted to this configuration, or whether it extends to double-quantifier configurations as well; and (2) to examine whether fall-rise intonation fully disambiguates the sentence, or only facilitates inverse scope. These questions were investigated experimentally, via an auditory acceptability judgment task, in which native English speakers rated the acceptability of auditorily presented sentences in contexts matching surface-scope vs. inverse-scope readings. The results provide evidence that fall-rise intonation facilitates the inverse-scope readings of English quantifier-negation configurations (supporting findings from prior literature), but not those of double-quantifier configurations.

scholarly journals The unexplored role of handshape similarity in processing numbers on the hands

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-171
Author(s):  
Ilaria Berteletti ◽  
SaraBeth J. Sullivan ◽  
Lucas Lancaster
Keyword(s):  
American Sign Language ◽  
Sign Language ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
American Sign ◽  
Numerical Information ◽  
Finger Counting ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Native Signers ◽  
The Relationship

With two simple experiments we investigate the overlooked influence of handshape similarity for processing numerical information conveyed on the hands. In most finger-counting sequences there is a tight relationship between the number of fingers raised and the numerical value represented. This creates a possible confound where numbers closer to each other are also represented by handshapes that are more similar. By using the American Sign Language (ASL) number signs we are able to dissociate between the two variables orthogonally. First, we test the effect of handshape similarity in a same/different judgment task in a group of hearing non-signers and then test the interference of handshape in a number judgment task in a group of native ASL signers. Our results show an effect of handshape similarity and its interaction with numerical value even in the group of native signers for whom these handshapes are linguistic symbols and not a learning tool for acquiring numerical concepts. Because prior studies have never considered handshape similarity, these results open new directions for understanding the relationship between finger-based counting, internal hand representations and numerical proficiency.

Source(s) of syntactic cross-linguistic influence (CLI): The case of L3 acquisition of English possessives by Mazandarani–Persian bilinguals

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Fallah ◽  
Ali Akbar Jabbari ◽  
Ali Mohammad Fazilatfar
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Third Language ◽  
The Third ◽  
Grammaticality Judgment ◽  
L3 Acquisition

This study investigates the role of previously acquired linguistic systems, Mazandarani and Persian, in the acquisition of third language (L3) English at the initial stages. The data have been obtained from 31 students (age 13–14 years), testing the placement of attributive possessives in a grammaticality judgment task, an element rearrangement task and an elicited oral imitation task. The participants consist of three groups: The first two groups have Mazandarani as the first language (L1) and Persian as the second language (L2), but differ from each other with respect to the language of communication, Mazandarani and Persian, respectively. The third group has Persian as the L1 and Mazandarani as the L2, with Persian as the language of communication. English and Mazandarani pattern similarly in the target structures. That is to say, possessors precede possessed nouns and possessive adjectives come before nouns. In contrast, in Persian, possessives occur post-nominally. The results of this study reveal that none of the proposals tested (e.g. the L1 Factor, Hermas, 2010, 2014a, 2014b; the L2 Status Factor, Bardel and Falk, 2007; Falk and Bardel, 2011; the Cumulative Enhancement Model (CEM), Flynn et al., 2004; the Typological Proximity Model (TPM), Rothman, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015) could account for the results obtained. This study provides support that at the initial stages of L3 acquisition, syntactic transfer originates from the language of communication, irrespective of order of acquisition.

scholarly journals The Role of Adult Attachment and Social Support in Hoarding Disorder

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Medard ◽  
Stephen Kellett
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hoarding Disorder ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Revised Si

Background: Research concerning the role of attachment and social support in hoarding is currently under investigated. Aims: To investigate whether hoarders experience less social support and more problematic relationships, the degree to which attachment and social support predicts hoarding and whether attachment moderates the relationship between social support and hoarding. Method: Measures of hoarding, attachment and social support were taken in a cross-sectional methodological design. Hoarders were identified via scores reaching caseness on the Savings Inventory–Revised (SI-R). Results: Hoarders (N = 380) reported significantly higher levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance and significantly lower levels of social support than student (N = 670) and community (N = 379) controls. Attachment and social support predicted 13% of total SI-R scores for hoarders, and attachment anxiety (but not avoidance) moderated the inverse relationship between social support and hoarding. Conclusions: Attachment and social support appears problematic for hoarders. Clinical implications and methodological issues are noted.

The Relationship between Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners’ Frequency of Language Learning Strategies Use and Their Pragmatic and Grammatical Awareness

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1284
Author(s):  
Shekoufeh Arab ◽  
Omid Tabatabaei
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Intermediate Students ◽  
Grammaticality Judgment ◽  
Grammatical Awareness ◽  
Pragmatic Awareness ◽  
The Relationship

In this study, attempts were made to investigate the use of language learning strategies in four areas of communicative competence among Iranian intermediate learners and also the extent of their pragmatic and grammatical awareness. The relationship between the participants' frequency of grammatical strategies use and their pragmatic and grammatical awareness was also explored. In so doing, after conducting the Oxford placement test on a group of students in Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, 63 homogeneous intermediate students were selected. The required data were collected through administrating Language Learning Strategies for Communicative Competence questionnaire to determine the use of language learning strategies by the participants and Pragmatic and Grammaticality Judgment Task questionnaire to determine their pragmatic and grammatical awareness. The findings revealed that the participants used grammatical strategies more frequently and sociolinguistic strategies less frequently than other types of strategies. Furthermore, the descriptive statistics demonstrated that the participants had more grammatical awareness and perceived the grammatical errors more seriously in comparison to pragmatic ones. Finally, correlational analysis displayed there was no correlation between the participants’ frequency of grammatical strategies use and their pragmatic awareness. These findings demonstrate the participants’ weakness in employing sociolinguistic strategies and their lack of pragmatic awareness.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL VARIABLES TO HERITAGE LANGUAGE LEARNERS’ LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE OF SPANISH

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (04) ◽  
pp. 695-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Torres ◽  
Ricardo Estremera ◽  
Sherez Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Heritage Language ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Linguistic Knowledge ◽  
Heritage Language Learners ◽  
Elicited Imitation ◽  
Grammaticality Judgment ◽  
Specific Contribution

AbstractIndividual differences (IDs) largely contribute to success in adult second language attainment (e.g., Dörnyei, 2006). Heritage language (HL) studies have also explored the role of IDs, namely psychosocial variables, and biographical factors with an adult HL learner population. However, the specific contribution of these variables to HL learners' performance on linguistic tests that differ in degree of explicitness and modality remains unknown. Therefore, the current study tested 103 adult HL learners of Spanish who completed a spoken elicited imitation task (EIT) and a written untimed grammaticality judgment task (UGJT) that elicited their knowledge of vulnerable morphosyntactic structures in HL bilingual acquisition. To investigate the contribution of individual learner factors on their performance, participants completed a few questionnaires. Mixed-effects regression models revealed that sequential bilingual status, willingness to communicate, generation and motivation contributed significantly, but yet differentially to participants' performance on grammatical and ungrammatical items of the EIT and UGJT.

The role of intonation cues in aphasic patients' performance of the grammaticality judgment task

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Sloan Berndt ◽  
Aita Salasoo ◽  
Charlotte C. Mitchum ◽  
Sheila E. Blumstein
Keyword(s):  
Judgment Task ◽  
Grammaticality Judgment

scholarly journals The unexplored role of handshape similarity in processing numbers on the hands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilaria Berteletti ◽  
SaraBeth Sullivan ◽  
Lucas Lancaster
Keyword(s):  
Judgment Task ◽  
Learning Tool ◽  
Numerical Information ◽  
Finger Counting ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Native Signers ◽  
The Relationship

With two simple experiments we investigate the overlooked influence of handshape similarity for processing numerical information conveyed on the hands. In most finger-counting sequences there is a tight relationship between the number of fingers raised and the numerical value represented. This creates a possible confound where numbers closer to each other are also represented by handshapes that are more similar. By using the ASL number signs we are able to dissociate between the two variables orthogonally. First, we test the effect of handshape similarity in a same/different judgment task in a group of hearing non-signers and then test the interference of handshape in a number judgment task in a group of native ASL signers. Our results show an effect of handshape similarity and its interaction with numerical value even in the group of native signers for whom these handshapes are linguistic symbols and not a learning tool for acquiring numerical concepts. Because prior studies have never considered handshape similarity, these results open new directions for understanding the relationship between finger-based counting, internal hand representations and numerical proficiency.

scholarly journals The relationship between fearful facial expressions valences and resting-state SW/FW ratio

2020 ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian Farahi ◽  
Seyedeh Maryam Moshirian Farahi ◽  
Mohammad Javad Asghari Ebrahimabad ◽  
Sayyed Mohsen Fatemi ◽  
Shamim Razaghi Kashani
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Judgment Task ◽  
Fast Wave ◽  
Reward Seeking ◽  
Fearful Faces ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Relationship

Fearful facial expressions are considered dangerous and may lead to potential punishment and may be associated with behavioral inhibitions. In the present study, we examined the possible associations between the resting-state slow-wave and fast-wave ratio (SW/FW) and the valence of fearful faces. Previous studies have shown the role of SW/FW in approach-driven motivation and reward-seeking behavior. The resting-state EEG of 75 high school and undergraduate students were recorded while they were performing the valence judgment task. The results indicated a positive correlation between the global score of SW/FW and the valence of fearful faces. Moreover, multiple regression analyses indicated SW/FW in the left medial frontal as the best predictor of the valence of fearful faces. The present study confirms the previous findings underlying SW/FW mechanisms in the motivational system, including a prediction of increased SW/FW in elevated reward sensitivity and decreased SW/FW in elevated punishment sensitivity.

scholarly journals Unconscious Visual Working Memory: a critical review and Bayesian meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo Gambarota ◽  
Naotsugu Tsuchiya ◽  
Massimiliano Pastore ◽  
Nicola Di Polito ◽  
Paola Sessa
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between consciousness and working memory (WM) has been recently debated both at the theoretical and methodological levels (Persuh et al., 2018; Velichkovsky, 2017). While there is behavioral and neural evidence that argues for the existence of unconscious WM, several methodological concerns have been raised, rendering this issue highly controversial. To address the robustness of the previous findings, here we adopt a meta-analytic approach to estimate the effect size and heterogeneity of the previously reported unconscious WM results, also including unpublished results. We used meta-regression to isolate relevant experimental variables, in particular, consciousness manipulation and WM paradigm to identify the source of the heterogeneity in the reported effect size of the unconscious WM. Our meta-analysis supports the existence of the unconscious WM effect and critically reveals several experimental variables that contribute to relevant heterogeneity. Our analysis clarifies several theoretical and methodological issues. We recommend that future studies explicitly operationalize the definition of consciousness, standardize the methodology and systematically explore the role of critical variables for the unconscious WM effect.

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