scholarly journals Exploring the relationship between lexical access and proficiency level in L2 speech production

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-402
Author(s):  
Gicele V. V. Prebianca
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Lexical Access ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Facilitatory Effect ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Lexical Representations ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
L2 Speech Production

This study explores the relationship between lexical access and proficiency level in L2 speech production. Forty-one participants (intermediate and advanced learners of English as a foreign language) performed a lexical access task in L2 which yielded two measures: reaction time (RT) and naming accuracy (NA). The statistical analysis point to a facilitatory effect of semantic related word distractors on L2 picture-naming for the experimental and control conditions in both proficiency groups. In addition, only the mean difference in NA scores for the control and experimental conditions between proficiency groups reached statistical significance. That is, advanced learners overpassed the intermediate ones in number of words correctly named. Results also indicate a partial relationship between RT and NA scores. Findings are explained in light of research on L2 speech production, lexical access and working memory, taking into account the development of L2 proficiency and L2 lexical representations.

scholarly journals Lexical Access in L2 Speech Production: a controlled serial search task

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-264
Author(s):  
Gicele Vergine Vieira
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Lexical Access ◽  
Search Task ◽  
L2 Proficiency ◽  
Serial Search ◽  
Cue Generation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Underlying Processes ◽  
L2 Speech Production

When it comes to lexical access in L2 speech production, working memory (WM) seems to play a central role as for less automatized procedures require more WM capacity to be executed (Prebianca, 2007). With that in mind, this paper aims at claiming that bilingual lexical access qualifies as a controlled serial strategic search task susceptible to individual differences in WM capacity. Evidence in support of such claim is provided by the results of AUTHOR's (2010) study conducted so as to investigate the relationship between L2 lexical access, WMC and L2 proficiency. AUTHOR's (2010) findings indicate that bilingual lexical access entails underlying processes such as cue generation, set delimitation, serial search and monitoring, which to be carried out, require the allocation of attention. Attention is limited and, as a result, only higher spans were able to perform these underlying processes automatically.

Is lexical selection in bilingual speech production language-specific? Further evidence from Spanish–English and English–Spanish bilinguals

1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Costa ◽  
Alfonso Caramazza
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Lexical Access ◽  
Picture Naming ◽  
Facilitatory Effect ◽  
Lexical Selection ◽  
Bilingual Speakers ◽  
L2 Spanish ◽  
Naming Latencies ◽  
Spanish Bilinguals

In this study we address the question of how lexical selection is achieved by bilingual speakers during speech production. Specifically, we test whether there is competition between the two lexicons of a bilingual during lexical access. In two picture–word interference experiments we explore the performance of two groups of bilinguals, English–Spanish and Spanish–English proficient bilinguals while naming pictures either in their L1 (Spanish) or in their L2 (Spanish). Picture naming was facilitated when the name of the picture and the distracter word were the “same”, regardless of the language in which the distracter was printed: same-language (e.g., mesa–mesa [table in Spanish]) or different-language pairs (e.g., mesa–table). The magnitude of this facilitatory effect was similar when naming in L1 (Experiment 1) and in L2 (Experiment 2). We also found that naming latencies were slower when the distracter word was semantically related to the picture's name (e.g., mesa–chair), regardless of the language in which the distracter was printed. The results suggest that there is no competition between the two lexicons of a bilingual during lexical access for production. This interpretation favors a model of lexical access in which lexical selection is language-specific both when speaking in L1 and in L2.

Lexical access in L2

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana V. Cook ◽  
Kira Gor
Keyword(s):  
Lexical Access ◽  
Interstimulus Interval ◽  
Priming Effect ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Phonological Priming ◽  
Lexical Competition ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Lexical Representations ◽  
L2 Learners ◽  
Whole Word

Previous research on phonological priming in a Lexical Decision Task (LDT) has demonstrated that second language (L2) learners do not show inhibition typical for native (L1) speakers that results from lexical competition, but rather a reversed effect – facilitation (Gor, Cook, & Jackson, 2010). The present study investigates the source of the reversed priming effect and addresses two possible causes: a deficit in lexical representations and a processing constraint. Twenty-three advanced learners of Russian participated in two experiments. The monolingual Russian LDT task with priming addressed the processing constraint by manipulating the interstimulus interval (ISI, 350 ms and 500 ms). The translation task evaluated the robustness of lexical representations at both the phonolexical level (whole-word phonological representation) and the level of form-to-meaning mapping, thereby addressing the lexical deficit. L2 learners did not benefit from an increased ISI, indicating lack of support for the processing constraint. However, the study, found evidence for the representational deficit: when L2 familiarity with the words is controlled and L2 representations are robust, L2 learners demonstrate native-like processing accompanied by inhibition; however, when the words have fragmented (or fuzzy) representations, L2 lexical access is unfaithful and is accompanied by reduced lexical competition leading to facilitation effects.

Asymmetric lexical access and fuzzy lexical representations in second language learners

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Darcy ◽  
Danielle Daidone ◽  
Chisato Kojima
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Lexical Access ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
American English ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Lexical Representations ◽  
Phonetic Categorization ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Over Time

For L2-learners, confusable phonemic categories lead to ambiguous lexical representations. Yet, learners can establish separate lexical representations for confusable categories, as shown by asymmetric patterns of lexical access, but the source of this asymmetry is not clear (Cutler et al., 2006). Two hypotheses compete, situating its source either at the lexical coding level or at the phonetic categorization level. The lexical coding hypothesis suggests that learners’ encoding of an unfamiliar category is not target-like but makes reference to a familiar L1 category (encoded as a poor exemplar of that L1 category). Four experiments examined how learners lexically encode confusable phonemic categories. American English learners of Japanese and of German were tested on phonetic categorization and lexical decision for geminate/singleton contrasts and front/back rounded vowel contrasts. Results showed the same asymmetrical patterns as Cutler et al.’s (2006), indicating that learners encode a lexical distinction between difficult categories. Results also clarify that the source of the asymmetry is located at the lexical coding level and does not emerge during input categorization: the distinction is not target-like, and makes reference to L1 categories. We further provide new evidence that asymmetries can be resolved over time: advanced learners are establishing more native-like lexical representations.

Production of Korean Fricatives in Second Language Acquisition

2006 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 17-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Yee Cheon
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Amplitude Difference ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Beginning Learners

Abstract. This article examines the acoustic characteristics of Korean fricatives (lax /s/ and tense /s*/) in three vowel contexts (/a/, /i/, and /u/) in the speech of AE learners of Korean. AE learners fall into two groups based on their proficiency. Acoustically, Korean /s*/ is more similar to English /s/ than the latter is to Korean /s/. In terms of A/F duration ratio, the more similar sound (Korean /s*/) was easier for AE advanced learners of Korean to produce, while in terms of amplitude difference AE learners did not distinguish the Korean fricatives at all regardless of their proficiency level. In terms of the mean A/F duration ratio, the Korean /s*/ was authentically produced by AE advanced learners, but AE advanced and beginning learners of Korean inaccurately produced Korean /s/ was L2 advanced learners and L1 speakers used different strategies in the production of Korean fricatives. AE KSL advanced learners showed primacy of duration over amplitude, while AE KSL beginning learners showed no significant acoustic cue effects in differentiating the Korean fricatives /s/ and /s*/ in production. As in the speech production of Korean fricatives /s/ and /s*/ by AE learners of Korean, factors other than years spent learning L2 should be considered to explain the acquisition of L2 sounds.

Receptive vocabulary size and its relationship to EFL language skills

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imma Miralpeix ◽  
Carmen Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Word Frequency ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Vocabulary Size ◽  
Lexical Knowledge ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Listening And Speaking

AbstractThis study analyses the relationship between receptive vocabulary size in upper-intermediate/advanced learners and EFL proficiency and the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Little research has been conducted on this dimension of lexical knowledge and the four skills (Staehr, 2008; Milton et al., 2010), in spite of the fact that previous studies of separate language skills have highlighted the importance of vocabulary size for language proficiency development. A sample of 42 participants was assessed by means of a receptive vocabulary size test on ten word-frequency levels (1k to 10k), and on both receptive and productive skills (oral and written). Results reveal that vocabulary size explains language proficiency to a large extent, even in learners with vocabularies of more than 5,000 words, though its influence on performance is not as strong as in learners with smaller vocabularies. At a high proficiency level, vocabulary size is closely linked to writing and is moderately correlated with reading, speaking and listening. The findings help to provide a more complete picture than earlier research by including more proficient learners in EFL settings.

scholarly journals Communication Strategies and Foreign Language Speech Production

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-198
Author(s):  
Gicele Vergine Vieira Prebianca ◽  
Mailce Borges Mota Fortkamp
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Oral Fluency ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Statistical Correlations ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
L2 Speech Production

This study investigated the relationship between communication strategies use and foreign language (L2) oral production. Thirty participants were assigned to a pre-intermediate, an intermediate or an advanced group. Their oral fluency was assessed by means of speech rate (Lennon, 1990). L2 speech production was elicited by means of three narrative tasks in three different sessions. Data analysis revealed that the relationship between communication strategies use and L2 oral fluency, as measured by speech rate, is not statistically significant in any of the three proficiency levels. The analysis also revealed that speech rate, alone, is not enough to examine the relationship between communication strategies use and L2 speech production. To explain the few instances of significant statistical correlations between speech rate and types of communication strategies, it is suggested that due to the multitude of factors affecting L2 oral fluency, other aspects of speech production need to be taken into consideration. In addition, the nature of tasks and their cognitive demands might have contributed to learners' apparently limited oral improvement across sessions.

Study of the infl uence of information and communication tools on the psychophysiological state of schoolchildren on the basis of subjective evaluation

2020 ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Rakhmanova ◽  
Georgiy Loginov ◽  
Vladimir Dolich ◽  
Nataliya Komleva ◽  
Galina Rakhmanova
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
The Body ◽  
Leningrad Region ◽  
Communication Tools ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Relationship

The relevance of the article is determined by the existence of contradictions between the need to introduce innovative technologies into the educational process at school, as an integral attribute of modern education, and the negative influence of factors on the physical and psycho-emotional state of health of students related to the use of information and communication tools (computers, phones, headphones). The goal of the study was to assess the relationship between the timing of the use of information and communication tools and the frequency of functional and psycho-emotional complaints in groups of middle and high school schoolchildren. 400 schoolchildren of the Saratov Region, the Moscow Region, Leningrad Region and the Republic of Dagestan were surveyed, who made up two groups of research: middle-school schoolchildren (grades 5–6) and high-school schoolchildren (grades 10–11 The survey was carried out by means of the standardized formalized cards which included the questions considering usage time of computers and mobile phones, complaints to a headache, hands pain, other pain and/or feeling of discomfort from visual organ and the organs of hearing, as well as a psycho-emotional state. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the STATISTICA application software program by StatSoft Inc (USA). To compare the frequencies of a binary feature, a fourfold table of absolute frequencies was constructed and the level of statistical significance for the exact Fisher’s two-tailed test criterion was determined. The study was conducted according to the requirements of bioethics, after signing informed consent statement by teenagers and their parents. The study examined the relationship between the timing of the use of information and communication tools and the frequency of complaints in groups of schoolchildren. The results of the study should be taken into account when developing and implementing preventive measures to prevent negative effects of computers and mobile devices on the body of students.

The Relationship Between The Perception of Elderly’s Health Status and Health Behaviors in Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 420-423
Author(s):  
Prapada Watcharanat ◽  
Prasong Tanpichai ◽  
Ravee Sajjasophon
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Multiple Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Congenital Diseases ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: This research aims to study the relationship between perception of elderly’s health and health behaviors in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study. The questionnaire was used to collect the data. This research was conducted in Nakhon Nayok province. The sample size was 270 which applied Taro Yamane's formula at a significant level 0.05. The descriptive statistics was implemented to describe the variables by presenting the frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between perception of elderly’s health and health behaviors. The statistical significance was considered to reject Hypothesis-null at < 0.05. Results: From a total of 270 people, more than 58.22% of the elderly perceived that they had moderate health conditions. Most elderly had congenital diseases (62.2%). The multiple regression analysis results showed that health status perception and health status perception when compared to their cohort related significantly to health behavior. Conclusion: The government should support the elderly on participation, trust, engagement, and cultural concern of the people in the community, which can contribute to promoting the physical, mental and social condition of the elderly.

scholarly journals Correlation between L-Lactate Concentrations in Beef Cattle, Obtained Using a Hand-Held Lactate Analyzer and a Lactate Assay Colorimetric Kit

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 926
Author(s):  
Daniela M. Meléndez ◽  
Sonia Marti ◽  
Luigi Faucitano ◽  
Derek B. Haley ◽  
Timothy D. Schwinghamer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Red Angus ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Lactate is a product of anaerobic glycolysis, used in animal research as an indicator of muscle fatigue. Therefore, it has been used as an indicator of cattle response to long distance transportation. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of L-lactate concentrations measured using a Lactate Scout+ analyzer and a traditional lactate assay colorimetric kit. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture from 96 steers (Black or Red Angus × Hereford/Simmental and Black or Red Angus × Charolais; 247 ± 38.2 kg BW) prior to loading (LO1) and after 36 h of transport, and prior to reloading and after an additional 4 h of road transportation, and on d 1, 2, 3, 5, 14, and 28 after transport. The Lactate Scout+ analyzer strip was dipped in blood at the time of sampling, while blood samples were collected into sodium fluoride tubes for use in the colorimetric analysis. Pearson correlations were calculated to assess the strength of the relationship between the experimental methods for the quantification of L-lactate concentrations. The magnitude and direction of the correlation, and the level of statistical significance varied over the observed time points, ranging from r = −0.03 (p = 0.75; LO1) to r = 0.75 (p < 0.0001; d 3). The correlation for the pooled data was weak but statistically significant (r = 0.33, p < 0.0001). Based on the low magnitude of the correlation due to variability across sampling time points in this study, the Lactate Scout+ analyzer is not a suitable alternative to a lab-based assay (considered the gold standard) for measuring L-lactate in transported cattle.

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