Phonological Processing in Visual Rhyming: A Developmental ERP Study

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giordana Grossi ◽  
Donna Coch ◽  
Sharon Coffey-Corina ◽  
Phillip J. Holcomb ◽  
Helen J. Neville
Keyword(s):  
Phonological Processing ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Frontal Asymmetry ◽  
Priming Paradigm ◽  
The One

We employed a visual rhyming priming paradigm to characterize the development of brain systems important for phonological processing in reading. We studied 109 right-handed, native English speakers within eight age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, 19-20, and 21-23. Participants decided whether two written words (prime-target) rhymed (JUICE-MOOSE) or not (CHAIR-MOOSE). In similar studies of adults, two main event-related potential (ERP) effects have been described: a negative slow wave to primes, larger over anterior regions of the left hemisphere and hypothesized to index rehearsal of the primes, and a negative deflection to targets, peaking at 400-450 msec, maximal over right temporal-parietal regions, larger for nonrhyming than rhyming targets, and hypothesized to index phonological matching. In this study, these two ERP effects were observed in all age groups; however, the two effects showed different developmental timecourses. On the one hand, the frontal asymmetry to primes increased with age; moreover, this asymmetry was correlated with reading and spelling scores, even after controlling for age. On the other hand, the distribution and onset of the more posterior rhyming effect (RE) were stable across age groups, suggesting that phonological matching relied on similar neural systems across these ages. Behaviorally, both reaction times and accuracy improved with age. These results suggest that different aspects of phonological processing rely on different neural systems that have different developmental timecourses.

scholarly journals PHONOLOGICAL PROCESSING OF STRESS BY NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS LEARNING SPANISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Ramsés Ortín ◽  
Miquel Simonet
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Phonological Processing ◽  
First Language ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Recall Task ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Auditory Stimuli ◽  
L2 Learners ◽  
L1 English ◽  
Processing Stress

Abstract One feature of Spanish that presents some difficulties to second language (L2) learners whose first language (L1) is English concerns lexical stress. This study explores one aspect of the obstacle these learners face, weak phonological processing routines concerning stress inherited from their native language. Participants were L1 English L2 learners of Spanish. The experiment was a sequence-recall task with auditory stimuli minimally contrasting in stress (target) or segmental composition (baseline). The results suggest that learners are more likely to accurately recall sequences with stimuli contrasting in segmental composition than stress, suggesting reduced phonological processing of stress relative to a processing baseline. Furthermore, an increase in proficiency—assessed by means of grammatical and lexical tests—was found to be modestly associated with an increase in the accuracy of processing stress. We conclude that the processing routines of native English speakers lead to an acquisitional obstacle when learning Spanish as a L2.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Idiom Processing Advantage using Translated Familiar Idioms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianshu Zhu ◽  
John Paul Minda
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Times ◽  
Random Order ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Facilitatory Effect ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
Dual Route ◽  
Dual Route Model ◽  
Chinese Idioms

The facilitatory effect shown in native speakers processing idiomatic phrases compared to matched novel phrases may be explained by a dual route model. This postulates that all phrases are processed literally at first, and if a phrase was recognized as familiar during processing, it would then be processed by a faster retrieval-route; if the phrase was not perceived as familiar, it would continue to be processed literally by the slower computation-route. The goals of the current project were to test the dual route model and to decipher the underlying mechanism in retrieval-route activation. English idioms and translated Chinese idioms were presented to both native English speakers and Chinese-English bilinguals in random order. Participants listened to the idiom up until the last word (e.g., “draw a snake and add”), then saw either the idiom ending (e.g., “feet”) or the matched control ending (e.g., “hair”); to which they made lexical decision and reaction times were recorded. We examined the priming effect for idioms compared to controls across the two language groups. Results showed that the two groups processed idioms of different origins differently. Native English speakers’ faster responses to English idioms than controls supported a dual route model; however, both native English and bilingual speakers’ faster responses to Chinese idioms than controls called for a less straightforward interpretation. For R code and outputs, refer to Rpubs post.

scholarly journals The Neural Correlates of Conflict Detection and Resolution During Multiword Lexical Selection: Evidence from Bilinguals and Monolinguals

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel F. Pulido ◽  
Paola E. Dussias
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Conflict Detection ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Lexical Selection ◽  
Multiword Units ◽  
Conflict Detection And Resolution ◽  
The Individual

Previous studies have identified the Event Related Potential (ERP) components of conflict detection and resolution mechanisms in tasks requiring lexical selection at the individual word level. We investigated the brain potentials associated with these mechanisms in a lexical selection task based on multiword units made up of verb–noun combinations (e.g., eat breakfast, skip school). Native and non-native English speakers were asked to select a familiarized target verb–noun sequence (eat breakfast) between two choices. Trials were low-conflict, with only one plausible candidate (e.g., eat – shoot – breakfast) or high-conflict, with two plausible verbs (e.g., eat – skip – breakfast). Following the presentation of the noun, native English speakers showed a biphasic process of selection, with a conflict-detection centro-parietal negativity between 500 and 600 ms (Ninc), followed by a right frontal effect (RFE) between 600 and 800 ms preceding responses. Late Spanish–English bilinguals showed a similar but more sustained and more widespread effect. Additionally, brain activity was only significantly correlated with performance in native speakers. Results suggest largely similar basic mechanisms, but also that different resources and strategies are engaged by non-native speakers when resolving conflict in the weaker language, with a greater focus on individual words than on multiword units.

scholarly journals Different measurements of bilingualism and their effect on performance on a Simon task

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Marie-France Champoux-Larsson ◽  
Alexandra S. Dylman
Keyword(s):  
Simon Task ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Social Background ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Continuous Variable ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Nonnative Language ◽  
Social Use

Abstract We investigated how operationalizing bilingualism affects the results on a Simon task in a population of monolingual and bilingual native English speakers (N = 166). Bilingualism was measured in different ways within participants, and the measurements were used both as dichotomous and continuous variables. Our results show that the statistical significance and effect size varied across operationalizations. Specifically, the Composite Factor Score (the Language and Social Background Questionnaire’s general score), showed a bilingual disadvantage on reaction times regardless of how it was used (dichotomously or continuously). When dividing participants into monolinguals and bilinguals based on the Nonnative Language Social Use score (a Language and Social Background Questionnaire subscore), differences in accuracy and reaction times were found between the groups, but the Nonnative Language Social Use score did not predict accuracy when used as a continuous variable (only reaction times). Finally, earlier age of acquisition predicted faster reaction times, but only when used on a continuum. Effect sizes were between the small and medium range. No differences on the Simon effect were found. Our results call for cautiousness when comparing studies using different types of measurements, highlight the need for clarity and transparency when describing samples, and stresses the need for more research on the operationalization of bilingualism.

scholarly journals The Study on the Teaching of the Basic Meaning of Chinese Directional Complement for Native English Speakers

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Qianwen Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Semantic Relationship ◽  
Grammatical Structure ◽  
Chinese Language Learning ◽  
Basic Meaning ◽  
Directional Complements ◽  
The One

Learning and mastering the basic meaning of the directional complement is an important content of Chinese language learning for native English speakers, and it is also an important basic knowledge for them to learn Chinese well. There exist two reasons why the directional complement is difficult to learn. On the one hand, the grammatical structure is complicated since it is not only necessary to consider whether there is an object behind the verb of the directional complement, but also the position of the object and the directional complement. On the other hand, the semantic relationship is complicated because the directional complement has both basic and extended meanings. As the most basic meaning of directional complement, it is shared by all directional complements. Therefore, we should teach the directional meaning of directional complement.

scholarly journals Specificity of Interaction of Cooperative and Non-cooperative Tactics While Communicating in English as Lingua Franca

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
First Language ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
The Other ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Lingua Franca ◽  
Substitution Principle ◽  
The One ◽  
English As Lingua Franca ◽  
Negative Stereotyping

This article discusses the specificity of interaction of cooperative and non-cooperative tactics. Such interaction occurs during a person’s discursive adaptation while communicating in English as a lingua franca. Based on A. Cogo research, we differentiate between English as a lingua franca (ELF) and English as a native/first language (ENL). The above, in its turn, explains the fact that native English speakers will most likely adapt to interaction in ELF rather than impose ENL standards on non-ENL speakers. The following principles of tactic interaction have been singled out: a) unification and b) substitution. Tactic interaction based on the principle of unification presupposes using one tactic that ensures successful realization of the other. That is how the negative stereotyping tactic in conjunction with the intimacy achievement tactic ensures the successful realization of the latter. Another example of tactic interaction based on the principle of unification is the interaction of the intimacy achievement tactic with the one of intimacy achievement / manipulation. In case of the latter, politeness that is characteristic of the intimacy achievement tactic can be used with a non-obvious purpose. In case of tactic interaction based on the substitution principle, there is a transition of one tactic to the other, thus achieving the communicative goal. For example, manifestation of aggression can be changed by the tactic of intimacy achievement. In that case, a communicant’s aggressive behavior can be changed into the reconciliatory one, thus demonstrating readiness to achieve intimacy.

scholarly journals Three- and Six-Year-Old Children are Sensitive to Natural Body Expressions of Emotion: An ERP Emotional Priming Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Ke ◽  
Quoc Vuong ◽  
Elena Geangu
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Auditory Target ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Body Movements ◽  
Emotional Information ◽  
Motion Cues ◽  
Audio Recordings ◽  
Priming Paradigm ◽  
Point Light

Body movements provide a rich source of emotional information during social interactions. Although the ability to perceive biological-motion cues related to those movements begins to develop in infancy, processing those cues to identify emotions likely continues to develop into childhood. Previous studies use posed or exaggerated body movements, which may not reflect the kind of body expressions children experience. The present study used an event-related potential (ERP) priming paradigm to investigate the development of emotion recognition from more naturalistic body movements. Point-light displays of human adult bodies spontaneously expressing happy or angry emotional movements were used as prime stimuli, while audio recordings of the words “happy” and “angry” spoken with an emotionally neutral prosody were used as targets. We recorded the ERPs time-locked to the onset of the auditory target from 3- and 6-year-old children, and compared amplitude and latency of the N300 and N400 responses between the two age groups in the different prime-target conditions. Three-year-old children showed an interaction between the prime and target for the N400 amplitude, suggesting that they were sensitive to the emotional congruency between body movements and words. Six-year-old children did not show this congruency effect; however, they had earlier N300 and N400 latency than the younger children, suggesting that older children may process the stimuli more quickly. Overall, our results suggest that both age groups can use naturalistic body movements to identify emotions, with developmental changes in how quickly emotional information from such body expressions are processed.

ERP signatures of subject–verb agreement in L2 learning

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
LANG CHEN ◽  
HUA SHU ◽  
YOUYI LIU ◽  
JINGJING ZHAO ◽  
PING LI
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Neural Structure ◽  
Verb Agreement ◽  
Syntactic Features ◽  
Chinese Learners ◽  
L2 Chinese ◽  
L2 Learners

In this study we examined ERP (event-related-potential) responses in the morphosyntactic processing of subject–verb agreements by L2 Chinese learners of English. Fifteen proficient L2 learners and fifteen native English speakers were presented with English sentences that varied in the grammaticality of the sentence with respect to subject–verb agreement. Our results indicate that late L2 learners show distinct ERP responses from native speakers in the processing of syntactic features that are absent in their L1, even when their behavioral patterns are similar to those of native speakers. The results are taken to support the proposal that language-specific experiences with L1 shape the neural structure of processing in L2.

scholarly journals An Investigation of Idiom Processing Advantage using Translated Familiar Idioms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianshu Zhu ◽  
John Paul Minda
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Times ◽  
Random Order ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Facilitatory Effect ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
Dual Route ◽  
Dual Route Model ◽  
Chinese Idioms

The facilitatory effect shown in native speakers processing idiomatic phrases compared to matched novel phrases may be explained by a dual route model. This postulates that all phrases are processed literally at first, and if a phrase was recognized as familiar during processing, it would then be processed by a faster retrieval-route; if the phrase was not perceived as familiar, it would continue to be processed literally by the slower computation-route. The goals of the current project were to test the dual route model and to decipher the underlying mechanism in retrieval-route activation. English idioms and translated Chinese idioms were presented to both native English speakers and Chinese-English bilinguals in random order. Participants listened to the idiom up until the last word (e.g., “draw a snake and add”), then saw either the idiom ending (e.g., “feet”) or the matched control ending (e.g., “hair”); to which they made lexical decision and reaction times were recorded. We examined the priming effect for idioms compared to controls across the two language groups. Results showed that the two groups processed idioms of different origins differently. Native English speakers’ faster responses to English idioms than controls supported a dual route model; however, both native English and bilingual speakers’ faster responses to Chinese idioms than controls called for a less straightforward interpretation.

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