L1 Role in Bilinguals’ Mental Lexicon: A Comparative Study between Chinese-English and Alphabetic Bilinguals

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1584
Author(s):  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Sensory Input ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
First Language ◽  
Mental Lexicon ◽  
Second Language Processing ◽  
Translation Equivalent ◽  
Automatic Activation ◽  
Chinese English Learners

This study is to compare L1 (first language) roles between Chinese-English and alphabetic bilinguals’ mental lexicons through reviewing empirical studies. L1 lexicon plays an important role in L2 (second language) processing in two aspects for alphabetic bilinguals, automatic activation of similar L1 to sensory input of L2, and that of L1 translation equivalent. While for Chinese English learners, L1 lexicon basically influences L2 by equivalent activation only, and the effect may persist throughout their lives, which is dramatically different from the developmental pattern of alphabetic bilinguals. The differences may come from different typological distance between the two languages, different composition of L2 mental lexicon, and their unique English acquisition experience in China.

Meta-analysis of the neural representation of first language and second language

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAJANI SEBASTIAN ◽  
ANGELA R. LAIRD ◽  
SWATHI KIRAN
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
First Language ◽  
Likelihood Estimation ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Second Language Processing ◽  
Meta Analyses

ABSTRACTThis study reports an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of published functional neuroimaging studies of bilingualism. Four parallel meta-analyses were conducted by taking into account the proficiency of participants reported in the studies. The results of the meta-analyses suggest differences in the probabilities of activation patterns between high proficiency and moderate/low proficiency bilinguals. The Talairach coordinates of activation in first language processing were very similar to that of second language processing in the high proficient bilinguals. However, in the low proficient group, the activation clusters were generally smaller and distributed over wider areas in both the hemispheres than the clusters identified in the ALE maps from the high proficient group. These findings draw attention to the importance of language proficiency in bilingual neural representation.

scholarly journals Status Quo and Prospective of WeChat in Improving Chinese English Learners’ Pronunciation

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanghui Wang
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Mobile Learning ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Support Functions ◽  
English Pronunciation ◽  
Chinese English Learners

With the ubiquitous usage of wireless, portable, and handheld devices gaining popularity in 21st century, the revolutionary mobile technology introduces digital new media to educational settings, which has changed the way of traditional teaching and learning. WeChat is one of the most popular social networking applications in China featured by its interactivity and real-time communication that has attracted attention of educators to its pedagogical value. This study evaluates the utilization of WeChat in mobile learning and, in particular, its potential for improving English pronunciation among English learners in China. It probes into the perennial problems of Chinese students in English pronunciation acquisition and oral practice, discusses WeChat’s support functions in mobile learning, demonstrates the relevant empirical studies of WeChat in teaching and learning, and analyses the potential value of using WeChat in improving English pronunciation. Examinations in this paper enable one to reflect on the strengths of mobile learning by WeChat and to explore how this social media tool is likely to solve the pronunciation difficulties of Chinese English learners. It is found that applying WeChat to English pronunciation teaching and practicing helps create better self-directed learning environment, enhance learning flexibility and improve oral learning effectiveness. It is hopefully that insights gained from examining how WeChat helps improve English pronunciation learning will shed light on further innovations of teaching designs in this area.

scholarly journals Bilingual Brains Learn to Use L2 Alliterations Covertly like Poets: Brain ERP Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqin Yang ◽  
Xiaochen Zhang ◽  
Minghu Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Native Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Unrelated Word ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Modulation Effect ◽  
Second Languages ◽  
English Translations ◽  
High Level

Bilinguals were documented to access their native or first language (L1) during comprehension of their second languages (L2). However, it is uncertain whether they can access L2 when reading their first language. This study used the event-related potential (ERP) technique to demonstrate the implicit and unconscious access to English words when Chinese–English bilinguals read words in Chinese, their native language. The participants were asked to judge whether the Chinese words presented in pairs were semantically related or not, meanwhile unconscious of the occasional alliteration (repetition of the first phoneme) if the Chinese words were translated into English. While the concealed prime in English translations failed to affect the reaction time, the alliteration significantly modulated N400 among advanced English learners, especially for semantically unrelated word pairs. Critically, this modulation effect was discrepant between bilinguals with high-level and normal-level English proficiency. These results indicate that L2 activation is an unconscious correlate of native-language processing depending on L2 proficiency.

Construct operationalization, L1 effects, and context in second language processing

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 694-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAN JUFFS
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Sentence Processing ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
First Language ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Second Language Processing

Cunnings (2016) provides welcome insights into differences between native speaker (NS) sentence processing, adult non-native speaker processing (NNS), and working memory capacity (WMC) limitations. This commentary briefly raises three issues: construct operationalization; the role of first language (L1); and context.

Second language processing: when are first and second languages processed similarly?

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Sabourin ◽  
Laurie A. Stowe
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
First Language ◽  
Grammatical Gender ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Neural Processing ◽  
Second Language Processing ◽  
Second Languages ◽  
L2 Processing ◽  
L1 And L2

In this article we investigate the effects of first language (L1) on second language (L2) neural processing for two grammatical constructions (verbal domain dependency and grammatical gender), focusing on the event-related potential P600 effect, which has been found in both L1 and L2 processing. Native Dutch speakers showed a P600 effect for both constructions tested. However, in L2 Dutch (with German or a Romance language as L1) a P600 effect only occurred if L1 and L2 were similar. German speakers show a P600 effect to both constructions. Romance speakers only show a P600 effect within the verbal domain. We interpret these findings as showing that with similar rule-governed processing routines in L1 and L2 (verbal domain processing for both German and Romance speakers), similar neural processing is possible in L1 and L2. However, lexically-driven constructions that are not the same in L1 and L2 (grammatical gender for Romance speakers) do not result in similar neural processing in L1 and L2 as measured by the P600 effect.

scholarly journals Affix Acquisition of Chinese English Learners: A Case Study Based on a Self-Built Corpus

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Zhixuan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Intermediate Frequency ◽  
Central China ◽  
Chinese English Learners

Nowadays, theoretic and empirical research into affix acquisition in Second Language Acquisition has attracted increasing attention (Peng Tingting, 2009; Zhao Ming, 2014; Chen Jie, 2017). However, there are still few empirical studies on affix acquisition of Chinese English learners, especially from the perspective of corpus linguistics. The present research aims to find out how affixes are acquired and used in written texts by Chinese English learners. A case study was conducted based on a self-built corpus. All of the data are collected from 174 undergraduate students majoring in English at a university in central China. Compleat Lexical Tutor (v.8.3) and AntConc (v.3.5.2) are used to process and analyze the data. As is shown in the results of the research, affixes acquired and used by Chinese English learners can be divided mainly into the following categories: 1. High-frequency affixes, such as -s, -ed, -ing, etc. 2. Intermediate-frequency affixes, such as -ly, -al, etc. 3. Low-frequency affixes, such as im-, in-, ir-, etc. Therefore, the affixes that are used most frequently are -s and -es, but prefixes are seldom used in written text. The present study is beneficial for providing a crucial reference for the instruction of vocabulary and writing in colleges.  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document