Word Associations Produced by 15–16 Years Old Teenagers of Monolingual and Multilingual Environments in the Lithuanian Language

Abstract

In the research participated 15–16 year old pupils of Vieksnių gymnasium (Lithuania), Rimdžiūnų and Pelesos high schools with Lithuanian language of instruction (Belarus). There were chosen two different explore‘s groups: monolingual and multilingual environments, 40 explores in each group. The aim of the research – identify and compare verbal associations of different groups in Lithuanian language, their peculiarities. The method of free associations has been chosen. Data analysis was accomplished according to the following aspects: contents and distribution of associations according to grammatical categories, stereotypes of reactions. Once the analysis has been accomplished, it became clear that subjects of multilingual environment produce more unrelated to the stimulus-word answers, more syntagmatic associations and less paradigmatic associations in comparison with subjects of monolingual environment. Subjects of multilingual environment provide more adjectives, adverbs and less verbs than subjects of monolingual environment. Subjects of multilingual environment stereo-typed higher than the other group. Keywords : language environment, word association, content of associations, parts of speech, stereotypy of associations. How to cite: Caplinskaja, E., & Dauksytė, J. (2014). 15–16 metų lietuvių paauglių, gyvenancių vienakalbėje ir misrioje aplinkoje, žodinės asociacijos lietuvių kalba [Word associations produced by 15–16 years old teenagers of monolingual and multilingual environments in the Lithuanian language]. Ugdymo psichologija, 25 , 50–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.15823/up.2014.04