Wang Peijuan, Huang Xueyi, Chang Xin
School of Foreign Languages, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200400, China.
Acta Psychol (Amst). 2023 Nov;241:104063. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.104063. Epub 2023 Nov 16.
Based on the inhibition account and activation account, inhibitory control and language proficiency play big roles on language control mechanisms underlying language switching respectively. But it is still debatable whether inhibitory control and language proficiency play roles in sentential context during bilingual language comprehension, and how and when they work if they both do. The present study examined the specific roles of language proficiency and inhibitory control on modulating intra-sentential switching costs in Chinese-English bilinguals using self-paced reading task. Results indicated that language proficiency and switching direction modulated intra-sentential switching costs significantly. Switching costs were larger when switching into L1 than into L2 for the first two code-switched words due to inhibitory effect, but more costly switching into L2 than into L1 since the third code-switched words owing to the effect of relative language proficiency. During bilingual language processing, inhibition and activation of languages shaped a dynamic interplay of complementary language control processes. Specifically, inhibitory control and language proficiency work as a dynamic continuum in language switching at sentence level. Switching into L1 requires the release of inhibition to L1, but switching into L2 asks the activation and access of L2. The interaction effects of language proficiency and inhibitory control influenced the exertion and components of inhibition. This study reconciled the independent roles of language proficiency and inhibitory control on language switching and constructed a new continuum based on language proficiency.
基于抑制账户和激活账户，抑制控制和语言熟练程度分别在语言切换背后的语言控制机制中发挥着重要作用。但是，在双语语言理解过程中，抑制控制和语言熟练程度是否在句子语境中发挥作用，以及如果它们都起作用的话，它们如何以及何时发挥作用，仍然存在争议。本研究使用自定步速阅读任务，考察了语言熟练程度和抑制控制对调节汉英双语者句子内切换成本的具体作用。结果表明，语言熟练程度和切换方向对句子内切换成本有显著调节作用。由于抑制作用，在前两个语码转换词中，从L2切换到L1时的切换成本比从L2切换到L1时更大，但从第三个语码转换词开始，由于相对语言熟练程度的影响，从L2切换到L1的成本更高。在双语语言加工过程中，语言的抑制和激活形成了互补语言控制过程的动态相互作用。具体而言，抑制控制和语言熟练程度在句子层面的语言切换中作为一个动态连续体发挥作用。切换到L1需要解除对L1的抑制，但切换到L2则需要激活和调用L2。语言熟练程度和抑制控制的交互作用影响了抑制的发挥和成分。本研究调和了语言熟练程度和抑制控制在语言切换上的独立作用，并基于语言熟练程度构建了一个新的连续体。
