Cognitive and linguistic predictors of bilingual single-word translation
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RESEARCH PAPER
Cognitive and linguistic predictors of bilingual single-word translation Peiyao Chen
. Sayuri Hayakawa . Viorica Marian
Received: 14 January 2020 / Revised: 31 May 2020 / Accepted: 26 June 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
Abstract One of the advantages of being bilingual is the ability to translate from one language to the other. From language learners to professional interpreters, many different types of bilinguals engage in translation in their daily lives. How successful they are, however, depends on a wide range of factors. The current study aimed to identify the cognitive and linguistic variables that predict how quickly and accurately bilinguals are able to translate single words. Eighteen Chinese–English bilinguals listened to words in their second language (L2 English) and verbally translated them into their native tongue (L1 Chinese). We observed that translation performance was predicted by factors related to language background, such as second language competence and language exposure, as well as domain-general cognitive abilities, such as inhibitory control. Translation performance was additionally influenced by features of the source language, such as word frequency, neighborhood density, and bi-gram/bi-phone probability. By examining factors relating to language experience, cognitive ability, and linguistic input, we shed light on the dynamic interaction that is required among multiple variables for successful translation.
P. Chen (&) S. Hayakawa V. Marian Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords Single word translation Bilingualism Proficiency Cognitive ability
Introduction Over 7000 languages are spoken around the world today (Ethnologue 2018). As society becomes increasingly globalized, the ability to transcend linguistic barriers becomes ever more necessary for activities ranging from engaging in international diplomacy to enjoying foreign language films. Indeed, some estimates suggest that half, if not more, of the world’s population speaks at least two languages (Grosjean 2010). As a result, there has been substantial research dedicated to understanding how individuals acquire foreign languages (e.g., Bartolotti and Marian 2017; Birdsong 2009; Kempe and Brooks 2011), how multiple languages are represented and controlled (e.g., Green 1998; Kroll and Stewart 1994; Marian and Spivey 2003), as well as how multilingualism impacts the cognitive architecture (e.g., Bialystok 2001; Costa et al. 2008; Luk et al. 2011; Shook and Marian 2013). Relatively less attention in the bilingualism literature has been directed to the factors that influence translation from one language to the other—this, despite the fact that almost every bilingual engages in some translation (Malakoff and Hakuta 1991), including toddlers as young as 3 years-old (Harris and Sherwood
123
J Cult Cogn Sci
1978). Furthermore, the consequence
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