First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context
Lexicalization-patterns, the way words are mapped onto concepts, differ from one language to another. This study investigated the influence of first language (L1) lexicalization patterns on the processing of second language (L2) words in sentential contexts by both less proficient and more prof...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch
2010-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Linguistics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jal.iaut.ac.ir/article_520176_98c4bce8c8ae23dd510b5a9eab891e87.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818991140375887872 |
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| author | Bahram Behin Aso Bayazidi |
| author_facet | Bahram Behin Aso Bayazidi |
| author_sort | Bahram Behin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lexicalization-patterns, the way words are mapped onto concepts, differ from one language to another. This study investigated the influence of first language (L1) lexicalization patterns on the processing of second language (L2) words in sentential contexts by both less proficient and more proficient Persian learners of English. The focus was on cases where two different senses of a polysemous word in Persian are realized by two independent words in English. For example, Persian uses ‘ماه’ to refer to both ‘moon’ and ‘month’ in English. In the present study, the researchers examined the processing of English translations (moon, month) of polysemous Persian words such as ‘ماه’ in a semantic anomaly judgment task. The participants who were two groups of more proficient and less proficient Persian learners of English were presented with two types of anomalous sentences: anomalous test sentences in which one of the two English words (e.g., month) was used in a context where the other word (e.g., moon) was appropriate (e.g., “A pleasant thing to watch at night is a full month”) and anomalous control sentences in which the same word was used in a context where neither of the two words was appropriate (e.g., “A pleasant thing to eat at night is a full month”). The participants were asked to judge, as quickly and accurately as possible, whether the final word could complete the sentence meaningfully (YES response) or whether the final word was semantically unacceptable (NO response). The participants’ reaction time (RT) for correct No responses and their error rates were recorded using DMDX, a psycholinguistics experimentation software package. Using two General Linear Model Repeated Measures, a main effect of sentence type was obtained in the analysis of both RT and errors. Also, there was an interaction between sentence type and proficiency level in the analysis of both RT and errors. The results are discussed in terms of the activation of the semantic specifications of L1 translation equivalent of L2 words. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:05:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89ff71f547564eaa84aa5a0f37e17743 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-8434 2538-1695 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:05:32Z |
| publishDate | 2010-05-01 |
| publisher | Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Linguistics |
| spelling | doaj.art-89ff71f547564eaa84aa5a0f37e177432022-12-21T19:27:57ZengIslamic Azad University, Tabriz BranchJournal of Applied Linguistics2008-84342538-16952010-05-0148126520176First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential ContextBahram BehinAso BayazidiLexicalization-patterns, the way words are mapped onto concepts, differ from one language to another. This study investigated the influence of first language (L1) lexicalization patterns on the processing of second language (L2) words in sentential contexts by both less proficient and more proficient Persian learners of English. The focus was on cases where two different senses of a polysemous word in Persian are realized by two independent words in English. For example, Persian uses ‘ماه’ to refer to both ‘moon’ and ‘month’ in English. In the present study, the researchers examined the processing of English translations (moon, month) of polysemous Persian words such as ‘ماه’ in a semantic anomaly judgment task. The participants who were two groups of more proficient and less proficient Persian learners of English were presented with two types of anomalous sentences: anomalous test sentences in which one of the two English words (e.g., month) was used in a context where the other word (e.g., moon) was appropriate (e.g., “A pleasant thing to watch at night is a full month”) and anomalous control sentences in which the same word was used in a context where neither of the two words was appropriate (e.g., “A pleasant thing to eat at night is a full month”). The participants were asked to judge, as quickly and accurately as possible, whether the final word could complete the sentence meaningfully (YES response) or whether the final word was semantically unacceptable (NO response). The participants’ reaction time (RT) for correct No responses and their error rates were recorded using DMDX, a psycholinguistics experimentation software package. Using two General Linear Model Repeated Measures, a main effect of sentence type was obtained in the analysis of both RT and errors. Also, there was an interaction between sentence type and proficiency level in the analysis of both RT and errors. The results are discussed in terms of the activation of the semantic specifications of L1 translation equivalent of L2 words.http://jal.iaut.ac.ir/article_520176_98c4bce8c8ae23dd510b5a9eab891e87.pdfBilingual LexiconLexicalization PatternLexical ProcessingpolysemyTranslation Equivalent |
| spellingShingle | Bahram Behin Aso Bayazidi First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context Journal of Applied Linguistics Bilingual Lexicon Lexicalization Pattern Lexical Processing polysemy Translation Equivalent |
| title | First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context |
| title_full | First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context |
| title_fullStr | First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context |
| title_short | First Language Activation during Second Language Lexical Processing in a Sentential Context |
| title_sort | first language activation during second language lexical processing in a sentential context |
| topic | Bilingual Lexicon Lexicalization Pattern Lexical Processing polysemy Translation Equivalent |
| url | http://jal.iaut.ac.ir/article_520176_98c4bce8c8ae23dd510b5a9eab891e87.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bahrambehin firstlanguageactivationduringsecondlanguagelexicalprocessinginasententialcontext AT asobayazidi firstlanguageactivationduringsecondlanguagelexicalprocessinginasententialcontext |