bilingualism and 2nd language acquisition - L3 (goblin) Flashcards
What is the definition of bilingualism according to Paradis (1986)?
‘Habitual, fluent, correct and accent-free use of two languages’
This definition can also extend to individuals fluent in more than two languages.
What is a common characteristic of bilingual individuals in terms of vocabulary?
Few individuals qualify as complete bilinguals; they may have more restricted vocabulary in one language than the other
Bilinguals might exhibit different abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
How does Grosjean (1982) define bilingualism?
In terms of language use rather than language proficiency
-A bilingual is someone who needs and uses more than two languages in everyday life.
What are some disadvantages associated with being bilingual?
- Initial delays in vocabulary acquisition in one language compared to monolinguals
- Slight deficit in cognitive and memory processing in the second language
- Potential interference effects between languages
What does code-switching refer to?
When bilinguals substitute a word or phrase from one language with a phrase or word from another language
It is a communicative device to convey linguistic and social information.
What is the mental switch mechanism in code-switching?
It determines which of the bilingual’s two mental dictionaries are ‘on’ or ‘off’ during language comprehension
This mechanism is responsible for selecting the appropriate mental dictionary for understanding a sentence.
True or False: Bilinguals have been found to have better metalinguistic awareness.
True
Bilinguals are better at understanding that names are arbitrary.
What is the concept of ‘language attrition’?
The phenomenon where a language is forgotten or diminished due to lack of use
The saying ‘Use it or lose it’ captures this idea.
What are the three modes of acquisition for bilingualism?
- Native bilingualism
- Immersion
- Submersion
Each mode impacts language proficiency differently.
What is meant by ‘critical period’ in language acquisition?
A specific time frame during which language acquisition occurs most easily and effectively
After this period, language learning may be less effective.
What happens to accent in L2 production as age of acquisition increases?
Accent in L2 production tends to become more pronounced with increased age of acquisition (Flege et al, 1995)
This is influenced by the loss of plasticity in neural circuits for language and interference.
What is the difference between separate store models and common store models in bilingual lexicon?
- Separate store models: L1 and L2 have distinct storage
- Common store models: words from both languages are stored together in the same lexicon
The choice of model influences how bilinguals access and translate between languages.
Fill in the blank: The __________ model posits that translation occurs through conceptual mediation.
Revised Hierarchical Model
This model suggests that L2 to L1 translation is indirect and slower.
What is the ‘asymmetry’ effect in bilingual translation?
Backward translation (L1 to L2) is faster than forward translation (L2 to L1)
This effect may vary among bilinguals based on age of acquisition and proficiency.
What does the term ‘semantic interference’ refer to in bilingual contexts?
The difficulty bilinguals may experience when processing words in one language that are semantically linked to the other language
It can affect tasks like translation and word recognition.
What are some non-linguistic tasks where bilingual advantages have been found?
- Stroop task
- Flanker task
- Card sort task
- Simon task
Bilinguals show better performance in tasks involving task switching and inhibition processes.
What evidence suggests that bilingualism can impact cognition outside of language?
Bilinguals are proficient at switching between languages and suppressing contextually inappropriate language
This proficiency may translate into advantages in non-linguistic cognitive tasks.
What is the impact of immersion on second language acquisition?
Immersion in a second language environment enhances language proficiency compared to classroom learning
It facilitates a more natural and effective language learning experience.
True or False: Teaching and practice have a significant effect on language development.
False
Language development is largely biologically triggered and less influenced by conscious intention.
how does interference occur?
-through levels: phonological, lexical and syntactic.
-phonological = least amount of interference
-lexical = mixing words from different languages (use words from both languages simultaneously)
-syntactic = until 2, use one syntactic system which is common to both languages, then period with two sets of lexical items, then two lexicons and two sets of syntax
what are some advantages to being bilingual?
-better metalinguistic awareness (better at understanding that names are arbitary)
-better verbal fluency
-more creative
-slows down cognitive aging
-code switching
what is a disadvantage to code-switching?
bilinguals take longer to read and comprehend sentences containing code-switched words
-due to a mental switch mechanism -> determines which of the two mental dictionaries are on or off during language comprehension.
an asymmetric switch cost suggests more inhibition is required to suppress a more dominant language
what is an advantage to code-switching?
-evidence suggests that being bilingual can have an impact on cognition outside of language
-bilinguals are very proficient at switching between languages
-good at supressing the contextually inappropriate language
how can someone improve their chances of being bilingual?
-improve frequency of usage of both languages -> use it or lose it thru language attrition
-mode of acquisition: native bilingualism, immersion and submersion.
what is native billingualism?
growing up in a two language environment
what is immersion?
schooling provided in a non-native language
what is submersion?
one learner surrounded by non-native speakers
how can language exposure effect bilingualism?
-order: early exposure during th critical period leads to simultaneous language switching, late sequential = second language learnt later in life
-languages =/= but interdependent
what did Atchinson, 1998 find about the critical period in bilingual acquisition?
Language is a biologically triggered behaviour
Shares characteristics with biologically triggered behaviour (Aitchison, 1998)
It emerges before it is necessary.
Its development is not triggered by external events – though it may be dependent upon an appropriate environment.
Its development goes through a series of stages.
There may be an optimal period for the behaviour to develop.
what are examples of non-human critical periods?
imprinting in ducks
visuo-motor co-ordination in the barn owl
what did Pallier et al, 2003 study?
studied foreign adoptees
-young adults of korean origin adopted by french families at ages ranging from 3 years to 10 years
what have studies using event related FMRI found?
adoptees and french ss scanned while listening to sentences in french, korean, japanese and polish
-comparisions dont show any sig differences
what did Bowers et al 2009 research?
-adults who were exposed to Zulu or Hindu in childhood, control = english speaking adults
-training on perception of phonemic distinctions -> specific to Zulu/Hindu
-only adults with prior exposure language showed significant improvements with retraining
what did Linck,Kroll & Sunderman, 2009 research?
-losing access to L1 while studying L2
-examined the performance of L2 learners who were all native english speakers and spanish as L2
-one group: studying in spain and immersed, the other studying in the class room
what are some of the separate store models?
-concept mediatation model
-word association model
-mixed model
-asymmetrical model
what happens in the common stores models?
Pavio, Clark & Lambert, 1988
-words from both languages in same store
what is the revised hierarchical model?
what is some evidence against RHM?
-Less fluent bilinguals faster at forward than backwards translation (De Groot & Poot, 1997)
-Bilingual STROOP (Altarriba & Mathis, 1997)
Across language stroop
Semantic interference and concept mediation in L2
-Asymmetry effects may be different in different bilinguals:
age of acquisition
relative proficiency
what happens in the development in bilingual interactive activation?
(Grainger and Dijkstra, 1992)
-shift from independent to integrated lexica with increased fluency
-early fluency -> special status of L2 words form excitatory connections to L1
-developed: links between L1 &L2, Integration into common lexicon, development of language nodes and strengthening excitatory connections between L2 and concepts
