Cross-linguistic collocational networks in the L1 Turkish–L2 English mental lexicon

Abstract

According to the Collocational Priming Theory, every word is primed to co-occur with particular other related words and priming could be regarded as the source of our creative language system. Previous research has shown evidence of collocational priming in both L1 and L2 users of English and has indicated that L2 processing is influenced by L1 collocations. This study attempts to further our understanding of the relationship between first and second language collocations through the paradigm of cross-linguistic priming. That is, it will test the extent to which individual words in one language prime recognition of those words’ collocates in the other language. Results suggest a complex picture of both cross-linguistic priming and cross-linguistic inhibition, operating differently across different part of speech combinations. They also suggest important methodological influences which future research will need to investigate. Findings are discussed in the light of the current bilingual mental lexicon models and some implications are drawn based on the observed collocational networks in the L1 Turkish–L2 English bilingual mental lexicon.