Bilingual Language Processing and Interference in Bilinguals: Evidence From Eye Tracking and Picture Naming

Authors: Kaushanskaya, Margarita; Marian, Viorica

Source: Language Learning, Volume 57, Number 1, March 2007 , pp. 119-163(45)

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Abstract:

Recognition and interference of a nontarget language (Russian) during production in a target language (English) were tested in Russian-English bilinguals using eye movements and picture naming. In Experiment 1, Russian words drew more eye movements and delayed English naming to a greater extent than control nonwords and English translation equivalents. In Experiment 2, Russian words spelled using English-specific letters drew more eye movements than control nonwords and English translation equivalents; however, both Russian words and nonword controls delayed English naming. Results of the two experiments suggest that nontarget-language information is processed during a target-language task. Recognition and production in bilinguals might function within distinct constraints, with recognition sensitive to lexical information (target and nontarget) and production sensitive to phonological information (lexical and nonlexical).

Keywords: Bilingualism; Parallel Language Activation; Picture Naming; Eye Tracking; Visual Word Recognition

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9922.2007.00401.x

Affiliations: 1: Northwestern University

Publication date: 2007-03-01