18
Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series talk by Dr. Schwieter
By Linguistics and Languages Department
Free Lecture for Faculty, Graduate Students, Researchers, Staff, Undergraduate Students
Overview
It is our pleasure to invite you to Cognitive Science of Language lecture series second talk of 2021–2022. The lecture will be delivered online by Dr. John W. Schwieter. Dr. Schwieter is a Professor of Spanish and Linguistics (Cross Appointment in Psychology), Research Ambassador: Society, Culture, and Community, Director of Bilingualism Matters @ Laurier / Language Acquisition, Multilingualism, & Cognition Lab at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. Please email lingdept@mcmaster.ca to request a link.
Title: Switching between newly-learned languages influences executive control
Abstract
Previous research has explored the relationship between language control and executive control based on performance in bilinguals’ skilled languages. However, this relationship between bilingualism and executive control has not been examined at the very initial stage of language learning. In the present study, we trained Chinese speakers to learn words in German and Japanese, two languages with which they had no prior experience. In pre- and post-training, we measured participants’ electrophysiological data to investigate how switching between these two newly learned languages affected executive control. We observed that, while lacking the language switching effect in the behavioral data, a flanker task elicited larger N2 and P3 amplitudes in the post-training session when participants were required to switch between German and Japanese compared to when they responded to only German or Japanese. These results provided evidence of language control of newly learned languages on domain-general executive control, specifically at the (very) initial period of language learning. Our findings support the adaptive nature of the relationship between bilingual language control and executive control.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the event!
Related Tags
- Academics
-
- Humanities
- Linguistics & Languages
- Science
- Keywords
-
- bilingualism
- executive control
- language control
Date(s) & Time(s)
Monday, October 18, 2021
2:30 pm - 4:20 pm EST
Location
This is an online event.
Related Tags
- Academics
-
- Humanities
- Linguistics & Languages
- Science
- Keywords
-
- bilingualism
- executive control
- language control