On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism
Word reduction refers to how predictable words are shortened in features such as duration, intensity, or pitch. However, its origin is still unclear: Are words reduced because it is the second time that conceptual representations are activated, or because words are articulated twice? If word reducti...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/9/11/294 |
| _version_ | 1818584041997205504 |
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| author | Sara Rodriguez-Cuadrado Cristina Baus Albert Costa |
| author_facet | Sara Rodriguez-Cuadrado Cristina Baus Albert Costa |
| author_sort | Sara Rodriguez-Cuadrado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Word reduction refers to how predictable words are shortened in features such as duration, intensity, or pitch. However, its origin is still unclear: Are words reduced because it is the second time that conceptual representations are activated, or because words are articulated twice? If word reduction is conceptually driven, it would be irrelevant whether the same referent is mentioned twice but using different words. However, if is articulatory, using different words for the same referent could prevent word reduction. In the present work, we use bilingualism to explore the conceptual or articulatory origin of word reduction in language production. Word reduction was compared in two conditions: a non-switch condition, where the two mentions of a referent were uttered in the same language, and a switch condition, where the referent was said in both languages. Dyads of participants completed collaborative maps in which words were uttered twice in Catalan or in Spanish, either repeating or switching the language between mentions. Words were equally reduced in duration, intensity, and pitch in non-switch and in switch conditions. Furthermore, the cognate status of words did not play any role. These findings support the theory that word reduction is conceptually driven. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:14:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d986b70ee1b04b7886901bcabe488181 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:14:53Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d986b70ee1b04b7886901bcabe4881812022-12-21T22:38:17ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252019-10-0191129410.3390/brainsci9110294brainsci9110294On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of BilingualismSara Rodriguez-Cuadrado0Cristina Baus1Albert Costa2Departamento Interfacultativo de Psicología Educativa y de la Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, SpainDepartament de Tecnologies de Informació I les Comunicacions, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08002 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Tecnologies de Informació I les Comunicacions, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08002 Barcelona, SpainWord reduction refers to how predictable words are shortened in features such as duration, intensity, or pitch. However, its origin is still unclear: Are words reduced because it is the second time that conceptual representations are activated, or because words are articulated twice? If word reduction is conceptually driven, it would be irrelevant whether the same referent is mentioned twice but using different words. However, if is articulatory, using different words for the same referent could prevent word reduction. In the present work, we use bilingualism to explore the conceptual or articulatory origin of word reduction in language production. Word reduction was compared in two conditions: a non-switch condition, where the two mentions of a referent were uttered in the same language, and a switch condition, where the referent was said in both languages. Dyads of participants completed collaborative maps in which words were uttered twice in Catalan or in Spanish, either repeating or switching the language between mentions. Words were equally reduced in duration, intensity, and pitch in non-switch and in switch conditions. Furthermore, the cognate status of words did not play any role. These findings support the theory that word reduction is conceptually driven.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/9/11/294word reductionlanguage switchingbilingualismdurationintensitypitch |
| spellingShingle | Sara Rodriguez-Cuadrado Cristina Baus Albert Costa On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism Brain Sciences word reduction language switching bilingualism duration intensity pitch |
| title | On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism |
| title_full | On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism |
| title_fullStr | On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism |
| title_short | On the Nature of the Word-Reduction Phenomenon: The Contribution of Bilingualism |
| title_sort | on the nature of the word reduction phenomenon the contribution of bilingualism |
| topic | word reduction language switching bilingualism duration intensity pitch |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/9/11/294 |
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