Thesis
Spoken word recognition in bilingual adults: within- and between-language activation
University of Iowa
Master of Arts (MA), University of Iowa
Spring 2022
DOI: 10.17077/etd.006354
Abstract
Spoken word recognition contains the element of competition in that multiple lexical candidates are activated and competing for recognition. While cohort competition is generally agreed to be especially robust in monolinguals, there is less evidence to suggest the same findings in bilinguals. Previous research supports the parallel activation hypothesis suggesting a bilingual’s multiple lexicons are processed simultaneously regardless of the input language.
The present study looks at spoken word recognition in adult English-Spanish bilinguals. We specifically examine within- and between-language cohort competition in both English and Spanish using the Visual World Paradigm. Results show strong evidence for within-language competition in both English and Spanish expanding and supporting previous literature. Additionally, cross-linguistic activation was evidenced in both English and Spanish although within-language activation presented as more robust than cross-linguistic activation. These results support the parallel language hypothesis and suggest that during spoken word recognition, bilingual adults activate cohort competitors in both languages regardless of the input language.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Spoken word recognition in bilingual adults: within- and between-language activation
- Creators
- Anna I. Sagan
- Contributors
- Kristi Hendrickson (Advisor)Philip Combiths (Committee Member)Si On Yoon (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (MA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Speech Pathology and Audiology
- Date degree season
- Spring 2022
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.006354
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- vi, 22 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2022 Anna I. Sagan
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- color illustrations, tables, graphs
- Public Abstract (ETD)
- We hear tens of thousands of words each day that we must listen to, process, recognize, and attach meaning. The process of recognizing words that are spoken to us contains the element of competition in that multiple words are thought about or activated and competing to be recognized. The strongest form of competition is between words that start the same (e.g., candy and candle). This research is clear and has been repeated many times using participants that speak one language. There is less evidence to support the same findings in people who speak two languages (bilinguals). Previous research suggests that words in both languages are activated when a person who speaks two languages hears a similar word that starts the same (e.g., pencil (English) and perro (Spanish)). This would mean that the areas that store each language are processed simultaneously regardless of the current language that is being used. The present study looks at how adult English-Spanish bilinguals recognize words in English and Spanish. We specifically examined if these adults think of English and Spanish words when they hear an English word and if they think of Spanish and English words when they hear a Spanish word. This was done by using a system that tracks their eyes while they hear words and click on pictures on a computer. Results showed that when a bilingual hears an English word, they think about English and Spanish words that start the same and when they hear a Spanish word, they think about Spanish and English words that start the same. This expands and supports previous studies showing the areas that store multiple languages in bilinguals are working together.
- Academic Unit
- Communication Sciences and Disorders; Center for Social Science Innovation
- Record Identifier
- 9984270954202771
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