This current study investigated bilingual and second language (L2) lexical processing in sentence context. There is overwhelming evidence from bilingual word recognition studies to support the notion that both languages are active during lexical processing (e.g., Van Heuven, Dijkstra, & Grainger, 1998; Dijkstra, Timmermans, & Schriefers, 2000, etc.). While the 'default' setting for lexical access may be non-selective in nature, there are instances in which lexical access is more selective. Past research found that bilinguals process more selectively when sentences are constrained for semantics. Other studies found that individuals use grammatical class information (i.e., noun or verb status) to guide lexical access. While it appears the semantic context of a sentence or word class effects may constrain selectivity, an often-overlooked dimension that could potentially affect selectivity is syntax. The current study examined how the cues of semantics and syntax interact and jointly affect lexical processing. In the first experiment, I investigated whether bilinguals and L2 learners processed words selectively or non-selectively in sentences constrained for semantics and syntax. The results showed cross-linguistic effects for intermediate L2 learners only. In the second experiment, I examined whether bilinguals and L2 learners showed sensitivity to grammatical class in sentences constrained for semantics. The findings showed that verbs were processed differently than nouns regardless of sentence context. The results from these experiments give implications for models of bilingual word processing, such as the Bilingual Interactive Activation+ (BIA+) model (Dijkstra & Van Heuven, 2002). / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2014. / April 30, 2014. / Bilingualism, Lexical Processing, Second Language Acquisition, Sentence Context / Includes bibliographical references. / Gretchen Sunderman, Professor Directing Dissertation; Michael Kaschak, University Representative; Michael Leeser, Committee Member; Lara Reglero, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_185387 |
| Contributors | Fancher, Eileen (authoraut), Sunderman, Gretchen (professor directing dissertation), Kaschak, Michael (university representative), Leeser, Michael (committee member), Reglero, Lara (committee member), Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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