作者
Kaitlyn Ann Litcofsky
发表日期
2013
简介
A unique feature of bilingual speech is that bilinguals often produce utterances that switch between languages, such as “I ate huevos para el desayuno [eggs for breakfast]”. While this switching occurs frequently in bilingual conversations, most neurocognitive research on language switching has actually focused on the switching of isolated, unrelated items. These studies have found that switching incurs a processing cost that is greater when switching into the dominant language, due to inhibition of the dominant language while processing the weaker language and the subsequent release of inhibition upon encountering a dominant language item. However, true codeswitching is language switching embedded in a larger, meaningful linguistic context, which may affect the processing of the switch. The few previous studies of sentential codeswitching also indicate a processing cost, but remain less clear on the possible asymmetry of this effect. The present study examined the comprehension of sentential codeswitching behaviorally using a self-paced reading paradigm (Experiment 1) and neurocognitively using event-related potentials (ERPs; Experiment 2) in Spanish-English bilinguals who codeswitch frequently in their daily life. The bilinguals read sentences that either contained a codeswitch or not, in both language switching directions. Reading times were longer for codeswitched, as compared to non-switched, sentences but this effect only appeared when switching from the dominant to weaker language. No effect was found for the reverse language switch, from the weaker to the dominant language. ERP results mirrored this pattern, with …
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