Aspects Of Linguistic Processing Research Articles

Differences between Monolinguals and Bilinguals in Phonetic and Phonological Learning and the Connection with Auditory Sensory Memory.

Bilingualism has been linked with improved function regarding certain aspects of linguistic processing, e.g., novel word acquisition and learning unfamiliar sound patterns. Two non mutually-exclusive approaches might explain these results. One is related to executive function, speculating that more effective learning is achieved through actively choosing relevant information while inhibiting potentially interfering information. While still controversial, executive function enhancements attributed to bilingual experience have been reported for decades. The other approach, understudied to date, emphasizes the role of sensory mechanisms, specifically auditory sensory memory. Bilinguals outperformed monolinguals in tasks involving auditory processing and episodic memory recall, but the questions whether (1) bilinguals' auditory sensory memory skills are also enhanced, and (2) phonetic skill and auditory sensory memory are correlated, remain open, however. Our study is innovative in investigating phonetic learning skills and auditory sensory memory in the same speakers from two groups: monolinguals and early bilinguals. The participants were trained and tested on an artificial accent of English and their auditory sensory memory was assessed based on a digit span task. The results demonstrated that, compared to monolinguals, bilinguals exhibit enhanced auditory sensory memory and phonetic and phonological learning skill, and a correlation exists between them.

Theta oscillations support the interface between language and memory

Recent evidence shows that hippocampal theta oscillations, usually linked to memory and navigation, are also observed during online language processing, suggesting a shared neurophysiological mechanism between language and memory. However, it remains to be established what specific roles hippocampal theta oscillations may play in language, and whether and how theta mediates the communication between the hippocampus and the perisylvian cortical areas, generally thought to support language processing. With whole-head magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings, the present study investigated these questions with two experiments. Using a violation paradigm, extensively used for studying neural underpinnings of different aspects of linguistic processing, we found increased theta power (4–8 ​Hz) in the hippocampal formation, when participants read a semantically incorrect vs. correct sentence ending. Such a pattern of results was replicated using different sentence stimuli in another cohort of participants. Importantly, no significant hippocampal theta power increase was found when participants read a semantically correct but syntactically incorrect sentence ending vs. a correct sentence ending. These findings may suggest that hippocampal theta oscillations are specifically linked to lexical-semantic related processing, and not general information processing in sentence reading. Furthermore, we found significantly transient theta phase coupling between the hippocampus and the left superior temporal gyrus, a hub area of the cortical network for language comprehension. This transient theta phase coupling may provide an important channel that links the memory and language systems for the generation of sentence meaning. Overall, these findings help specify the role of hippocampal theta in language, and provide a novel neurophysiological mechanism at the network level that may support the interface between memory and language.

The acquisition of a novel accent by monolinguals and early bilinguals: Vowel epenthesis in English voiceless s-clusters

Bilingualism has been linked with improved function regarding certain aspects of linguistic processing, e.g., manipulating language in terms of discrete units, novel word acquisition, and learning unfamiliar sound patterns in novel accents. Recent experimental work with non-native contrasts suggests that bilinguals have enhanced phonetic learning and speech perception abilities compared to monolinguals. We investigate phonetic learning skills in monolinguals (n = 20) and early, simultaneous bilinguals (n = 20). The subjects were trained and tested on an artificial accent of English. One the features distinguishing the novel accent from the standard variety was the presence of vocalic epenthesis in the voiceless s-clusters [sp, st, sk]. For example, words such as “spy” or “school” were pronounced as “suh-py” [səpaj] and “suh-cool” [səkul]. A total of 760 target items were evaluated manually. A score of 1 was assigned for each token produced with an epenthetic vowel between s and the following consonant, otherwise the score was 0. Early bilinguals outperformed the monolinguals on the acquisition of this pattern. Acoustic analyses are underway to assess the differences between the two groups' productions, such as quality, duration, and placement of the epenthetic vowel, as preliminary observations revealed a high number of long-distance phenomena such as [spəhaj] or [spəʔaj].Bilingualism has been linked with improved function regarding certain aspects of linguistic processing, e.g., manipulating language in terms of discrete units, novel word acquisition, and learning unfamiliar sound patterns in novel accents. Recent experimental work with non-native contrasts suggests that bilinguals have enhanced phonetic learning and speech perception abilities compared to monolinguals. We investigate phonetic learning skills in monolinguals (n = 20) and early, simultaneous bilinguals (n = 20). The subjects were trained and tested on an artificial accent of English. One the features distinguishing the novel accent from the standard variety was the presence of vocalic epenthesis in the voiceless s-clusters [sp, st, sk]. For example, words such as “spy” or “school” were pronounced as “suh-py” [səpaj] and “suh-cool” [səkul]. A total of 760 target items were evaluated manually. A score of 1 was assigned for each token produced with an epenthetic vowel between s and the following consonant, ot...

Liu vs. Liu vs. Luke? Name influence on voice recall

ABSTRACTListeners are better at remembering voices speaking in familiar languages and accents, and this finding is often dubbed the language-familiarity effect (LFE). A potential mechanism behind the LFE relates to a combination of listeners’ implicit knowledge about lower level phonetic cues and higher level linguistic processes. While previous work has established that listeners’ social expectations influence various aspects of linguistic processing and speech perception, it remains unknown how such expectations might affect talker recognition. To this end, Mandarin-accented English voices and locally accented English voices were used in a talker recognition paradigm in conditions which paired voices with stereotypically congruent names (Mandarin-accented English voice as Chen and locally accented English voice as Connor) and stereotypically incongruent names (vice versa). Across two experiments, listeners showed greater recall for the familiar, local voices than the Mandarin-accented ones, confirming the basic premise of the LFE. Further, incongruent accent/name pairings negatively affected listeners’ performance, although listeners with experience speaking Mandarin were less influenced by the incongruent accent/name pairings. These results indicate that the LFE, while relying largely on listeners’ ability to parse linguistic information, is also affected by nonlinguistic information about a talker’s social identity.

Do low intelligibility voices induce false memories?

Spoken language is highly variable with phonetic variation that is attributable to multiple dimensions, including, but not limited to, differences in dialect, mood, native language, sociolinguistic dimensions, and talker-specific idiosyncrasies. Phonetic variation has documented effects on other aspects of linguistic processing. For example, Sumner and Kataoka found that phonetic variation affected semantic processing in semantic priming and false memory tasks, to which they concluding that socially dispreferred (i.e., voices or accents that are socially stigmatized or less desirable) phonetic variation received less attention in encoding, leading to a lack of priming and higher false memory rates [Sumner & Kataoka, 2013, JASA-EL, 134(6)]. In this study we compare the intelligibility and propensity to induce false memories in a between-subjects design. Intelligibility is assessed as response latency in a speeded shadowing task, and false memories are measured using standardized false memory lists where reporting of critical lure items not in the auditorily presented list are counted as false memories. The speaker set consists of five speakers of English, representing two local accents, two nonnative accents, and one native nonlocal accent. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of how phonetic variation affects word recognition and semantic processing.

New method for fMRI investigations of language: defining ROIs functionally in individual subjects.

Previous neuroimaging research has identified a number of brain regions sensitive to different aspects of linguistic processing, but precise functional characterization of these regions has proven challenging. We hypothesize that clearer functional specificity may emerge if candidate language-sensitive regions are identified functionally within each subject individually, a method that has revealed striking functional specificity in visual cortex but that has rarely been applied to neuroimaging studies of language. This method enables pooling of data from corresponding functional regions across subjects rather than from corresponding locations in stereotaxic space (which may differ functionally because of the anatomical variability across subjects). However, it is far from obvious a priori that this method will work as it requires that multiple stringent conditions be met. Specifically, candidate language-sensitive brain regions must be identifiable functionally within individual subjects in a short scan, must be replicable within subjects and have clear correspondence across subjects, and must manifest key signatures of language processing (e.g., a higher response to sentences than nonword strings, whether visual or auditory). We show here that this method does indeed work: we identify 13 candidate language-sensitive regions that meet these criteria, each present in >or=80% of subjects individually. The selectivity of these regions is stronger using our method than when standard group analyses are conducted on the same data, suggesting that the future application of this method may reveal clearer functional specificity than has been evident in prior neuroimaging research on language.

THE STRUCTURE OF PHONOLOGICAL NETWORKS ACROSS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES

The network characteristics based on the phonological similarities in the lexicons of several languages were examined. These languages differed widely in their history and linguistic structure, but commonalities in the network characteristics were observed. These networks were also found to be different from other networks studied in the literature. The properties of these networks suggest explanations for various aspects of linguistic processing and hint at deeper organization within the human language.

High-Throughput Analysis of Promoter Occupancy Reveals Direct Neural Targets of FOXP2, a Gene Mutated in Speech and Language Disorders

We previously discovered that mutations of the human FOXP2 gene cause a monogenic communication disorder, primarily characterized by difficulties in learning to make coordinated sequences of articulatory gestures that underlie speech. Affected people have deficits in expressive and receptive linguistic processing and display structural and/or functional abnormalities in cortical and subcortical brain regions. FOXP2 provides a unique window into neural processes involved in speech and language. In particular, its role as a transcription factor gene offers powerful functional genomic routes for dissecting critical neurogenetic mechanisms. Here, we employ chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with promoter microarrays (ChIP-chip) to successfully identify genomic sites that are directly bound by FOXP2 protein in native chromatin of human neuron-like cells. We focus on a subset of downstream targets identified by this approach, showing that altered FOXP2 levels yield significant changes in expression in our cell-based models and that FOXP2 binds in a specific manner to consensus sites within the relevant promoters. Moreover, we demonstrate significant quantitative differences in target expression in embryonic brains of mutant mice, mediated by specific in vivo Foxp2-chromatin interactions. This work represents the first identification and in vivo verification of neural targets regulated by FOXP2. Our data indicate that FOXP2 has dual functionality, acting to either repress or activate gene expression at occupied promoters. The identified targets suggest roles in modulating synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and axon guidance and represent novel entry points into in vivo pathways that may be disturbed in speech and language disorders.

Language ability and hippocampal integrity

Studies of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) have shown that aspects of language ability degeneration are associated with left hippocampal abnormalities[l], and in vivo studies of the normal human brain have demonstrated that the left hippocampus is active in some aspects of linguistic processing[2]. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between performance on a battery of language tests involving object and word recognition and matching and hippocampal integrity as measured by T2 mapping in a cohort of patients with intractable TLE. Methods Forty three patients with TLE were divided into three groups according to hippocampal volume estimates obtained by using the Calvalieri method in combination with point counting on 3D Tl-weighted MR images. The 95th centiles of hippocampal volumes obtained by an identical approach in 35 controls provided normal limits for detection of medial temporal sclerosis (MTS). By this criterion, 15, 9, and 19 patients were assigned to left MTS, right MTS and no MTS respectively. T2 mapping of the anterior hippocampus was performed on all patients as a measure of hippocampal gliosis. A battery of computerised object matching, semantic matching and word-object matching tasks was used to assess specific aspects of language ability. The tasks required patients to match one of two source items with a target item based on object orientation, context and meaning. The computer automatically recorded accuracy and reaction times (RT). Results There were no overall differences between groups of patients on any of the language tasks. There were, however, significant correlations between anterior hippocampal T2 and aspects of language performance for the non MTS, but not the left and right MTS groups. In particular, for the no MTS group, there were significant positive correlations between left hippocampal T2 and mean RT on tests of object (.673, p=O.O02) and semantic matching (.496, p=O.O3), and corresponding correlations for sub-components of the word-object recognition test ranged from ,483 (p=O.O4) to ,676 (p=O.O03). Also, there was a significant negative correlation between right anterior hippocampal T2, (-531, p=O.O2; -.501, p=O.O4) and word-object matching. Discussion The results indicate that increased T2 relaxation time of left hippocampal tissue is related to language ability degeneration in the no MTS group. This concurs with the lateralisation evidence indicating that left hemispheric structures mediate linguistic processing, and that the hippocampus plays a role in this. The finding that these associations emerged only for the no MTS group may reflect the fact that T2 relaxation time is a reliable indicator of cognitive ability only for non-atrophied hippocampal tissue.

Language evolution in children with cochlear implants

The capacity to incorporate significant words into the existing vocabulary and to use these words to form sentences with more mature syntactic structures emerges over a considerable time course in young deaf children who have undergone a cochlear implantation. The purpose of this follow-up study is to document the nature and time span of language production--in morphosyntactic and lexical skills--when a child's first experience with language sounds is provided artificially through electrical stimulation. To examine the development of these two aspects of linguistic processing, five deaf French children, all enrolled in similar postimplantation educational settings, were individually assessed at 6-month intervals over a period of 18 months. Computerized analyses were derived from their spontaneous speech in a 20-min standardized play session. Results for mean length of utterance and vocabulary revealed gradually improving performance for most children, in spite of the generally low starting point. Both measures of production nevertheless remained well below the norms established for normally hearing children. Although the achievement of higher production scores, which underlies more effective interpersonal exchanges, is evident after only 1 year of device use, it is clear that improvement does not always occur at the same pace, as shown by two of the children. This emphasizes the importance of longitudinal studies in documenting intersubject variability and intrasubject stability throughout the experience with an implant.