On the impact of L2 speech rhythm on syntactic ambiguity resolution

In an event-related potential (ERP) study we investigated the role of age of acquisition (AoA) on the use of second language rhythmic properties during syntactic ambiguity resolution. Syntactically ambiguous sentences embedded in rhythmically regular and irregular contexts were presented to Turkish early and late second language (L2) learners of German and to German monolingual controls. Regarding rhythmic properties, Turkish is syllable-timed and prefers the iamb as its metric foot, while German is stress-timed, relying on the trochee. To utilize rhythm during the processing of syntactic ambiguity in L2, Turkish early and late L2 learners of German must master different rhythmic properties than in their first language. ERPs reveal a reduction in the P600 response to object-first sentences presented in rhythmically regular, but not in rhythmically irregular contexts for early learners and monolinguals only. No such effect was found for late L2 learners. Results indicate an interactive use of rhythmic information during the processing of syntactic ambiguity by monolinguals and early learners. Further, data from late L2 learners suggest that the acquisition of rhythmic properties may have to occur in a sensitive learning period

Ambiguity · Ambiguity Resolution · Cognitive psychology · German · Language acquisition · Linguistics · Rhythm · Syllable · Turkish · Computer Science · Language Development and Disorders · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development

• Prosody in linguistic journals

  Open Access•Mengzhu Yan, Xue Wu•Humanities and Social Sciences…•2024

  Incluir item

• A Perceptual Study of Intonation

  Open Access•Johan ’t Hart, René Collier et al.•Perceptual Study of Intonation•1990

  Incluir item

• Processing a second language

  Open Access•Anja Hahne, Angela D Friederici•Bilingualism Language and Cognition•2001

  Incluir item

• How native-like is non-native language processing?

  Open Access•Harald Clahsen, Claudia Felser•Trends in Cognitive Sciences•2006

  Incluir item

• Gaps in Second Language Sentence Processing

  Theodoros Marinis, Theodore Marinis et al.•Studies in Second Language…•2005

  Incluir item

• Individual differences in working memory and reading

  Open Access•Meredyth Daneman, Patricia A Carpenter•Journal of Verbal Learning and…•1980

  Incluir item

• Parsing Strategies in L1 and L2 Sentence Processing

  Open Access•Despina Papadopoulou, Harald Clahsen•Studies in Second Language…•2003

  Incluir item

• Maturational Constraints on Functional Specializations for Language Processing

  Open Access•Christine M Weber-Fox, Christine Weber‐Fox et al.•Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience•1996

  Incluir item

• Implicit and Explicit Measures of Sensitivity to Violations in Second Language Grammar

  Natasha Tokowicz, Brian Macwhinney•Studies in Second Language…•2005

  Incluir item

• A capacity theory of comprehension

  Marcel Adam Just, Patricia A Carpenter•Psychological Review•1992

  Incluir item

• Working memory and language

  Open Access•Alan Baddeley•Journal of Communication Disorders•2003

  Incluir item

• The phonological loop as a language learning device.

  Alan Baddeley, AD Baddeley et al.•Psychological Review•1998

  Incluir item

• Working memory, short-term memory, and general fluid intelligence

  Randall W Engle, Stephen W Tuholski et al.•Journal of Experimental…•1999

  Incluir item

• Working memory span tasks

  Open Access•Andrew R A Conway, Michael J Kane et al.•Psychonomic Bulletin & Review•2005

  Incluir item

• The Prosodic Hierarchy in Meter

  Open Access•Bernadette G Hayes, Bruce Hayes•Rhythm and meter•1989

  Incluir item

• Learning Second Language Suprasegmentals

  Open Access•Pavel Trofimovich, Wendy Baker•Studies in Second Language…•2006

  Incluir item

• Critical period effects in second language learning

  Open Access•Jacqueline S Johnson, Elissa L Newport•Cognitive Psychology•1989

  Incluir item

• Prosodic Facilitation and Interference in the Resolution of Temporary Syntactic Closure Ambiguity

  Open Access•Margaret M Kjelgaard, Margaret Kjelgaard et al.•Journal of Memory and Language•1999

  Incluir item

• Age Constraints on Second-Language Acquisition

  Open Access•James Emil Flege, Grace H Yeni-Komshian et al.•Journal of Memory and Language•1999

  Incluir item

• The Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (Leap-Q)

  Viorica Marian, Henrike K Blumenfeld et al.•Journal of Speech, Language, and…•2007

  Incluir item

• The intonation of American English

  Kenneth L Pike•The intonation of American English•1979

  Incluir item

• A course in phonetics

  Peter Ladefoged•A course in phonetics•1993

  Incluir item

• Über Untersuchungen der Sprache lesegestörter Kinder

  Open Access•Grete Mottier•Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica•2009

  Incluir item

• Turkish stress

  Open Access•Sharon Inkela, Sharon Inkelas et al.•Phonology•2003

  Incluir item

• Syllabische Struktur und Wortakzent. Prinzipien der Prosodik deutscher Wörter

  Open Access•Peter Eisenberg•Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft•1991

  Incluir item

• Self-assessment in second language testing

  Steven J Ro, S Ross•Language Testing•1998

  Incluir item

• Validating self-reported language proficiency by testing performance in an immigrant community

  Open Access•Nikhat Shameem•Language Testing•1998

  Incluir item

• Self-assessment in second language testing

  Open Access•Steven J Ro, Steven Ross•Language Testing•1998

  Incluir item

• The monolingual nature of speech segmentation by bilinguals

  Open Access•Antony Cutler, Anne Cutler et al.•Cognitive Psychology•1992

  Incluir item

• The syllable's differing role in the segmentation of French and English

  Open Access•Antony Cutler, Anne Cutler et al.•Journal of Memory and Language•1986

  Incluir item

• Perception of acoustic correlates of major phrasal units by young infants

  Open Access•Peter W Jusczyk, Kathy Hirsh‐pasek et al.•Cognitive Psychology•1992

  Incluir item

• Mora or Syllable? Speech Segmentation in Japanese

  Open Access•Takashi Otake, Giyoo Hatano et al.•Journal of Memory and Language•1993

  Incluir item

• Factors affecting degree of foreign accent in an L2

  Open Access•Thorsten Piske, I Mackay et al.•Journal of Phonetics•2001

  Incluir item

• Native listeners

  Open Access•Antony Cutler•European Review•2002

  Incluir item

• Electrophysiological correlates of second language processing

  Open Access•Jutta L Mueller•Second language Research•2005

  Incluir item

• Processing wh -dependencies in a second language

  Open Access•Claudia Felser, Leah Roberts•Second language Research•2007

  Incluir item

• The Effect of Age on the Acquisition of Second Language Prosody

  Open Access•Becky H Huang, Sun-Ah Jun•Language and Speech•2011

  Incluir item

• Parsing theory and phrase-order variation in German V2 clauses

  Open Access•Paul Gorrell•Journal of Psycholinguistic…•1996

  Incluir item

• Syntactic parsing as revealed by brain responses

  Open Access•Angela D Friederici, Axel Mecklinger•Journal of Psycholinguistic…•1996

  Incluir item

• Listening to a second language through the ears of a first

  Antony Cutler•Interpreting International…•2000

  Incluir item

• Prosodic form and parsing commitments

  Open Access•Sheila M Watts, Sheila Watt et al.•Journal of Psycholinguistic…•1996

  Incluir item

• The influence of prosodic structure on the resolution of temporary syntactic closure ambiguities

  Open Access•Shari R Speer, Margaret M Kjelgaard et al.•Journal of Psycholinguistic…•1996

  Incluir item

• A Dynamic Systems Theory approach to second language acquisition

  Open Access•Kees De Bot, Wander Lowie et al.•Bilingualism Language and Cognition•2007

  Incluir item

• Nonword span as a unique predictor of second-language vocabulary language

  Him Cheung•Developmental Psychology•1996

  Incluir item

• Is French really syllable-timed

  Open Access•Brian J Wenk, Francois Wioland•Journal of Phonetics•1982

  Incluir item

• Age and Second Language Acquisition and Processing

  Open Access•David Birdsong•Language Learning•2006

  Incluir item

• Age of acquisition

  Arturo E Hernandez, Ping Li•Psychological Bulletin•2007

  Incluir item

• On the division of short-term and working memory

  Nash Unsworth, Ahmed El Gamoun et al.•Psychological Bulletin•2007

  Incluir item

• Segmentation problems, rhythmic solutions

  Open Access•Antony Cutler, Anne Cutler•Lingua•1994

  Incluir item

• Foreign Accents, Language Acquisition, and Cerebral Dominance1

  Open Access•Tom Scovel•Language Learning•1969

  Incluir item