E-CLIPS · Effects of Cross-Linguistic Interactions on Perception of Speech
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-07-01 → 2021-06-30
- EU contribution
- €158,122
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
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Results in brief
Effects of Cross-Linguistic Interactions on Perception of Speech
What is the problem/issue being addressed? Bilinguals often communicate with one another through spoken interactions in a non-native, second language (L2). Typical environmental factors that compromise the quality of the speech signal, like noise, can have an even greater detrimental effect on the comprehension of an L2. The ability to accurately recognize L2 words, in noise, depends on available context as well as individuals’ prior lexical knowledge. For bilinguals, this lexical knowledge includes words in two language systems, which interact with one another. The effects of cross linguistic interactions on L2 word recognition depends on the similarity between lexical forms across languages, however, how these effects are modulated by noise is not known. The overall goal of this proposal was to elucidate the functional and neural architecture that supports accurate L2 word recognition as a function of cross linguistic interactions, context, and listening condition. To this end, we had three multi-methodological objectives (behavioral, fMRI, electrophysiological) that addressed questions about the influence of L1 on L2 word recognition, in noise, as a function of crosslinguistic lexical similarity. Why is it important for society? The ability to communicate through spoken language is fundamental to human interactions and quality of life. A surge of technological developments have facilitated cross-cultural spoken interactions, on a global scale, among bilingual speakers. However, typical listening environments are often susceptible to noise and other types of interference that affect the quality of the speech signal, and are most detrimental for non-native language comprehension. Thus, understanding the factors that affect second-language listening, their interactions with noise, and the mechanisms that can be used to compensate for noise is of great value to our evermore globalized society. What are the overall objectives? Objective 1 characterizes the functional architecture underlying the mapping of sound onto words, in L2 listeners, as a function of its potential interactions with L1 lexical forms. Objective 2 identifies the underlying network of brain regions, and their functional connections, that support accurate word recognition, in noise as a function of cross linguistic interactions and semantic feedback using fMRI. Objective 3 aimed to explore the neurophysiological basis of the temporal dynamics that contribute to cross linguistic effects on L2 word recognition, using electrophysiological measures.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Conversations often take place in noisy environments like a crowded coffee shop. In the European community, many of these conversations are among bilinguals and in a second language. Although adverse listening conditions have little impact on comprehension in one’s native language, communication can be severely affected in a bilingual’s second language. The neural systems involved in spoken language and the mechanisms that facilitate comprehension have been extensively investigated in monolinguals. However, much is unknown about the neural architecture that supports language comprehension in bilinguals. Bilinguals have, not one, but two systems that map sound-to-meaning. Here we investigate how the two languages interact with one another and how that affects access to meaning under naturalistic listening conditions. A combination of complementary methodologies — behavior, fMRI, and ERP/EEG — will be used to characterize the nature, locus, and temporal dynamics of mapping sound-to-meaning in bilinguals. The research location also provides a rare opportunity to compare two unique balanced bilingual populations that share one common language, Basque; the two groups of bilinguals differ in the degree to which their first (Spanish or French) languages overlap in their sound structure with Basque. The project aims to bridge bilingualism and speech perception research, two rapidly growing areas of study, to provide a unifying neural framework for bilingual spoken language processing. This work will provide the basis for clinical and technological advances that support language comprehension.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- BCBL BASQUE CENTER ON COGNITION BRAIN AND LANGUAGE · San SebastianCoordinatorSpain
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union