Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism
The Revised Hierarchical Model (RHM) proposed by Kroll and Stewart has been one of the most influential models of late multilingual language processing. While the model has provided valuable insights into language processing mechanisms, the role of contextual factors for the RHM has not been investi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Languages |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/9/3/106 |
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| author | Laura Sperl Marta Sofia Nicanço Tomé Helene Kühn Helene Kreysa |
| author_facet | Laura Sperl Marta Sofia Nicanço Tomé Helene Kühn Helene Kreysa |
| author_sort | Laura Sperl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Revised Hierarchical Model (RHM) proposed by Kroll and Stewart has been one of the most influential models of late multilingual language processing. While the model has provided valuable insights into language processing mechanisms, the role of contextual factors for the RHM has not been investigated to date. Such contextual effects could be manifold, including individual speakers’ language profiles (such as age of acquisition, proficiency, and immersion experiences), experimental factors (such as different instruction languages), and environmental factors (such as societal language(s)). Additionally, it also appears promising to investigate the applicability of the RHM to non-native multilingual speakers from diverse backgrounds. To investigate whether some of the mentioned contextual factors affect non-native language processing, we designed three online experiments requiring answers in German and English, but tested speakers whose first language was <i>neither</i> German <i>nor</i> English. They performed a series of translation, picture-naming, and recall tasks based on Kroll and Stewart, as well as providing detailed information on their proficiencies, profiles of language use, and exposure. Experiment 1, conducted with speakers living in Germany, established the paradigm and investigated the role of <i>individual differences</i> in linguistic background. While Experiment 2 focused on the short-term effects of the <i>experimental context</i> by varying whether instructions were provided in German or in English, Experiment 3 examined the longer-term role of the current <i>language environment</i> by comparing individuals living in German-speaking countries with speakers living in societies where neither experimental language is spoken regularly. As in Kroll and Stewart, both the response language and the list type constituted key variables affecting response times and accuracy, known as language asymmetry and category interference. Importantly, the strength of this asymmetry was affected by participants’ immersion experiences, suggesting a certain dynamic development in multilingual language processing. In addition, context also seemed to play a role for experimental performance, especially the language environment examined in Experiment 3. Hence, speakers’ individual linguistic backgrounds and experience with the experimental languages, as well as additional contextual factors, need to be considered when conducting multilingual experiments and drawing conclusions about multilinguistic processing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:05:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f24168a880a8497f82c10454a59786b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-471X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:05:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Languages |
| spelling | doaj.art-f24168a880a8497f82c10454a59786b62024-03-27T13:51:00ZengMDPI AGLanguages2226-471X2024-03-019310610.3390/languages9030106Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in MultilingualismLaura Sperl0Marta Sofia Nicanço Tomé1Helene Kühn2Helene Kreysa3Department of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University, D-07743 Jena, GermanyDepartment of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University, D-07743 Jena, GermanyDepartment of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University, D-07743 Jena, GermanyDepartment of General Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Friedrich Schiller University, D-07743 Jena, GermanyThe Revised Hierarchical Model (RHM) proposed by Kroll and Stewart has been one of the most influential models of late multilingual language processing. While the model has provided valuable insights into language processing mechanisms, the role of contextual factors for the RHM has not been investigated to date. Such contextual effects could be manifold, including individual speakers’ language profiles (such as age of acquisition, proficiency, and immersion experiences), experimental factors (such as different instruction languages), and environmental factors (such as societal language(s)). Additionally, it also appears promising to investigate the applicability of the RHM to non-native multilingual speakers from diverse backgrounds. To investigate whether some of the mentioned contextual factors affect non-native language processing, we designed three online experiments requiring answers in German and English, but tested speakers whose first language was <i>neither</i> German <i>nor</i> English. They performed a series of translation, picture-naming, and recall tasks based on Kroll and Stewart, as well as providing detailed information on their proficiencies, profiles of language use, and exposure. Experiment 1, conducted with speakers living in Germany, established the paradigm and investigated the role of <i>individual differences</i> in linguistic background. While Experiment 2 focused on the short-term effects of the <i>experimental context</i> by varying whether instructions were provided in German or in English, Experiment 3 examined the longer-term role of the current <i>language environment</i> by comparing individuals living in German-speaking countries with speakers living in societies where neither experimental language is spoken regularly. As in Kroll and Stewart, both the response language and the list type constituted key variables affecting response times and accuracy, known as language asymmetry and category interference. Importantly, the strength of this asymmetry was affected by participants’ immersion experiences, suggesting a certain dynamic development in multilingual language processing. In addition, context also seemed to play a role for experimental performance, especially the language environment examined in Experiment 3. Hence, speakers’ individual linguistic backgrounds and experience with the experimental languages, as well as additional contextual factors, need to be considered when conducting multilingual experiments and drawing conclusions about multilinguistic processing.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/9/3/106multilingualismforeign language processingcontextual factorsnon-native speakerspsycholinguisticslanguage context |
| spellingShingle | Laura Sperl Marta Sofia Nicanço Tomé Helene Kühn Helene Kreysa Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism Languages multilingualism foreign language processing contextual factors non-native speakers psycholinguistics language context |
| title | Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism |
| title_full | Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism |
| title_fullStr | Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism |
| title_short | Context Matters: How Experimental Language and Language Environment Affect Mental Representations in Multilingualism |
| title_sort | context matters how experimental language and language environment affect mental representations in multilingualism |
| topic | multilingualism foreign language processing contextual factors non-native speakers psycholinguistics language context |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-471X/9/3/106 |
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