Language Switching and Switching Cost in Language Comprehension of Tibetan-Chinese Bilinguals With Different Proficiency Levels

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we chose Tibetan-Chinese bilinguals to perform the word recognition task. For these bilinguals, Tibetan is their mother tongue and Chinese is their second language. According to the level of Chinese of the subjects, we divided them into two groups, that is, the proficient and nonproficient bilinguals. In this experiment, we set up three conditions, namely, the no switching, expected switching, and no expected switching conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the essentials of language switching and switching costs between Tibetan and Chinese. The results were as follows:1) under the three conditions, the reaction times of Chinese words of proficient and nonproficient Tibetan-Chinese bilinguals were significantly shorter than that of Tibetan words, while the error rate of Chinese words was significantly lower than that of Tibetan words. 2) Compared switching condition with no switching condition, the reaction speed of the former was slower, the error rate of the former was higher, they all reached a significant level. The switching costs were observed. 3) Compared proficient Tibetan-Chinese bilinguals with nonproficient Tibetan-Chinese bilinguals, the reaction times of Chinese of the former were shorter, the error rate of the former was lower, they all reached a significant level. For conclusion, in the process of Tibetan-Chinese bilingual's language switching, there was switching cost. The findings support the hypothesis of inhibition that the switching cost of proficient Tibetan-Chinese bilinguals was smaller.

Key words: Tibetan, Chinese, language switching, switching costs

摘要： 以母语为藏语，第二语言为汉语的熟练和非熟练藏汉双语者为被试，采用词汇判断任务，在无切换、预期切换和无预期切换三种条件下，考察藏汉两种语言之间的语码切换及其切换代价。结果表明：（1）在三种条件下，熟练和非熟练藏汉双语者对汉语词的反应时均显著短于对藏语词的反应时，汉语词的错误率也显著低于藏语词；（2）切换条件下的反应速度显著慢于无切换条件，切换条件下的错误率显著高于无切换条件，存在显著的切换代价；（3）熟练藏汉双语者对汉语词的反应时显著短于非熟练藏汉双语者，熟练藏汉双语者对汉语词反应的错误率也显著低于非熟练藏汉双语者。本研究表明，藏汉双语语码切换过程中存在切换代价，支持抑制说；熟练藏汉双语者语码切换代价更小。

关键词: 藏语, 汉语, 语码切换, 切换代价

CLC Number:

B842.6

GAO Lei, GAO Xiaolei, BAI Xuejun, CHEN Meixiang, GUO Zhiying. Language Switching and Switching Cost in Language Comprehension of Tibetan-Chinese Bilinguals With Different Proficiency Levels[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2018, 16(6): 744-750.

高蕾, 高晓雷, 白学军, 陈梅香, 郭志英. 不同熟练程度藏汉双语者言语理解中的语码切换及其代价[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2018, 16(6): 744-750.

References

白学军, 高晓雷, 高蕾, 王永胜. (2017). 藏语阅读知觉广度的眼动研究. 心理学报, 49(5), 569-576
崔占玲, 张积家. (2010). 汉-英双语者言语理解中语码切换的机制——来自亚词汇水平的证据. 心理学报, 42(2), 173-184
崔占玲, 张积家, 韩淼. (2007). 汉-英和藏-汉-英双语者中、英文语码切换及代价研究. 应用心理学, 13(2), 160-167, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-6020.2007.02.011
崔占玲, 张积家, 鲁忠义. (2009). 语码切换及代价的研究及进展. 河北师范大学学报(哲学社会科学版), 32(4), 102-107
高晓雷, 王永胜, 郭志英, 张慢慢, 白学军. (2015). 藏-汉双语者语义与词汇表征特点研究. 心理与行为研究, 13(6), 737-743, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-0628.2015.06.003
胡笑羽, 白学军. (2008). 双语控制的神经基础及其对第二语言教学的启示. 心理与行为研究, 6(1), 70-74, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-0628.2008.01.013
李波. (2012). 教育优先发展背景下的西藏双语教育策略研究. 中国藏学, (2), 213-216
吕勇, 许贵芳, 沈德立. (2008). 汉英语言内及语言间重复启动效应的ERP研究. 心理与行为研究, 6(2), 81-88, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-0628.2008.02.001
吕璀璀. (2016). 英语课堂中教师语码转换的社会心理动机研究. 教学与管理: 理论版, (8), 86-89
马恒芬, 何立媛. (2014). 语言理解中的语码切换研究. 天津大学学报(社会科学版), (5), 462-467
马恒芬, 王春梅, 耿峰. (2014). 汉-英双语语码切换代价实证研究. 当代外语研究, (5), 43-46
祁志强, 彭聃龄, 丁国盛. (2010). 不可预期条件下汉英双语者的语言切换研究. 心理科学, 33(5), 1051-1053
祁志强, 彭聘龄, 许翔杰, 柳恒超. (2009). 汉英双语者语言产生与理解过程中的切换研究. 心理科学, 32(2), 356-359
王敬欣, 贾丽萍, 何立媛, 张阔. (2014). 汉-英双语者图片命名任务中的语码切换代价. 心理学探新, 34(2), 147-151, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-5184.2014.02.009
王悦, 张积家. (2013). 熟练汉-英双语者在短语理解中的语码切换机制. 外语研究, (6), 51-55, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1005-7242.2013.06.009
伍丽梅, 伍国华, 陈卓铭. (2017). 双语者言语产生中语码切换代价——从孤立词汇到句子语境. 心理科学进展, 25(1), 37-48
张积家, 崔占玲. (2008). 藏-汉-英双语者字词识别中的语码切换及其代价. 心理学报, 40(2), 136-147
张积家, 王悦. (2012). 熟练汉-英双语者的语码切换机制——来自短语水平的证据. 心理学报, 44(2), 166-178
张阔, 王敬欣. (2005). 汉-英并列双语者图片命名的重复启动效应. 心理与行为研究, 3(1), 30-34
张玉晶, 买合甫来提·坎吉, 阻木然提古丽·然木吐拉. (2015). 不同水平五年级维吾尔族学生母语阅读知觉广度. 心理发展与教育, 31(6), 703-709
Bruin, A. M. T. D., Roelofs, A. P. A., Dijkstra, A. F. J., & Fitzpatrick, I (2014). Domain-general inhibition areas of the brain are involved in language switching: FMRI evidence from trilingual speakers. Neuroimage, 90(8), 348-359.
Bobb, S. C., & Wodniecka, Z (2013). Language switching in picture naming: What asymmetric switch costs (do not) tell us about inhibition in bilingual speech planning. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 25(5), 568-585, doi: 10.1080/20445911.2013.792822.
Cai, Q., & Brysbaert, M (2010). SUBTLEX-CH: Chinese word and character frequencies based on film subtitles. Plos One, 5(6), e10729, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010729.
Caramazza, A., & Brones, I (1980). Semantic classification by bilinguals. Canadian Journal of Psychology/Revue Canadienne De Psychologie, 34(1), 77-81, doi: 10.1037/h0081016.
Declerck, M., & Philipp, A. M (2015). A review of control processes and their locus in language switching. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 22(6), 1630-1645.
Fink, A., & Goldrick, M (2015). Pervasive benefits of preparation in language switching. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 22(3), 808-814.
Francis, W. S (1999). Cognitive integration of language and memory in bilinguals: Semantic Representation. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 193-222, doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.193.
Grainger, J., & Beauvillain, C (1987). Language blocking and lexical access in bilinguals. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A, 39(2), 295-319, doi: 10.1080/14640748708401788.
Grosjean, F (1992). Another view of bilingualism. Advances in Psychology, 83, 51-62, doi: 10.1016/S0166-4115(08)61487-9.
Gross, M., & Kaushanskaya, M (2015). Voluntary language switching in English-Spanish bilingual children. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 27(8), 992-1013, doi: 10.1080/20445911.2015.1074242.
Jared, D., & Kroll, J. F (2001). Do bilinguals activate phonological representations in one or both of their languages when naming words? Journal of Memory and Language, 44(1), 2-31, doi: 10.1006/jmla.2000.2747.
Kolers, P. A (1966). Interlingual facilitation of short-term memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 5(3), 314-319, doi: 10.1016/S0022-5371(66)80037-3.
Meuter, R. F. I., & Allport, A (1999). Bilingual language-switching in naming: Asymmetrical costs of language selection. Journal of Memory and Language, (40), 25-40.
Nas, G (1983). Visual word recognition in bilinguals: Evidence for a cooperation between visual and sound based codes during access to a common lexical store. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 22(5), 526-534, doi: 10.1016/S0022-5371(83)90319-5.
Orfanidou, E., & Sumner, P (2005). Language switching and the effects of orthographic specificity and response repetition. Memory & Cognition, 33(2), 355-369.
Rodriguez-Fornells, A., & Münte, T. F. (2016). Syntactic interference in bilingual naming during language switching. In J. W. Schwieter (Ed.), Cognitive control and consequences of multilingualism (pp. 239-270). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Thomas, M. S. C., & Allport, A (2000). Language switching costs in bilingual visual word recognition. Journal of Memory and Language, 43(1), 44-66, doi: 10.1006/jmla.1999.2700.

[1]	ZHANG Manman, HU Huilan, BIAN Han, LI Fang, ZHANG Zhichao, ZANG Chuanli. Word Frequency Effects in Fast and Slow Readers During Skilled Chinese Reading [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 304-310.
[2]	WANG Yongsheng, HE Liyuan, LI Xin, BAI Xuejun. The Role of the First Character Frequency in Low-Frequency Two-Character Words in Parafoveal Processing in Chinese Reading [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 311-317.
[3]	LIANG Feifei, XIANG Ying, LONG Mengling. Initial Character Positional Probability Does Not Influence Word Segmentation in Chinese Reading: Evidence from Parafoveal Processing [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 318-324.
[4]	HE Liyuan, ZHAO Xing, BAI Yu, LIU Nina. Multi-Word Unit Processing for Chinese Older Readers: Evidence from Eye Movements [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(2): 160-166.
[5]	GU Junjuan, GAO Zhihua, MA Shaoyang. The Sub-Word Boundary Effect of Chinese Character Position Processing in Incremental Words [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(1): 1-7.
[6]	LIANG Feifei, XIANG Ying, WU Hao, HAN Yang. The Development of Word Boundary Marking in Chinese Children with Developmental Dyslexia [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(6): 757-763.
[7]	ZHU Huan, XIE Xiaowei, DAI Zheru, TANG Xiaoya, ZANG Jian, WU Jiao, ZANG Xuelian. Semantic Information Takes Precedence over Spatial Location and Glyph Feature in Contextual Cueing with Chinese Characters [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(5): 577-584.
[8]	LIU Zhifang, ZENG Taishen, CHAI Lin, CHEN Chaoyang, TONG Wen. The Characteristics of Word Processing When Deaf Readers Read Chinese: Evidences from Disappearing Text [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(5): 592-598.
[9]	LI Yunsong, CHEN Qiyang, WU Yan, LI Tianhong, DUAN Rujun. The Dominant Role of Semantic Radicals in Chinese Phonogram Recognition [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(4): 439-446.
[10]	CHEN Zixun, LI Jinwen, SONG Wenli, LIU Xia. The Effects of Peer Victimization on Adolescents’ Well-Being in the Context of Parent-Child Separation: A Longitudinal Study [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(4): 493-499.
[11]	GAO Xiaolei, SHEN Meng, REN Xiaofei, BAI Xuejun, GAO Lei. The Perceptual Span and Parafoveal Preview Effect of Tibetan-Chinese Readers with High and Low Chinese Level in Reading Chinese [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(3): 297-303,333.
[12]	HE Fei, LIANG Feifei, BAI Xuejun. Semantic Radical Category Consistency Effect in Chinese Incidental Vocabulary Learning [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(3): 304-311.
[13]	YU Jinwang, MENG Zhu, QIN Zhao, DENG Zhizhou, ZHAO Shaochen, YAN Guoli. The Effect of Irrelevant Speech on Chinese Word Processing [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(5): 611-617.
[14]	DENG Bilin, ZHANG Jijia. The Levels and Influencing Factors of the Illusion Conjunction in Chinese [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(3): 289-296.
[15]	KONG Lingyue, ZHANG Bao. The Effect of Sub-Lexical Phonology on P200 in Chinese Word Recognition [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(3): 304-310.