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Semantic ambiguity within and across languages: an integrative review
Tamar Degani1, Natasha Tokowicz
1University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|December 3, 2009
Summary
Bilinguals navigate meaning confusion both within and across languages. This review integrates research on cross-language ambiguity with existing models, emphasizing context and frequency interactions.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Cognitive Science
- Bilingualism Research
Background:
- Semantic ambiguity exists within languages (e.g., 'organ') and across languages (e.g., 'angel' in English vs. Dutch).
- Bilingual individuals manage ambiguity in individual languages and between languages, posing unique cognitive challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies on cross-language semantic ambiguity.
- To integrate findings on cross-language ambiguity with within-language ambiguity resolution.
- To propose an extended model incorporating language context.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on cross-language ambiguity.
- Analysis of how frequency and context influence cross-language ambiguity.
- Examination of theoretical models, including an extension of the reordered access model.
Main Results:
- Frequency and context interact in cross-language ambiguity, necessitating the inclusion of language context.
- The similarity of meanings, task demands, and individual differences influence ambiguity resolution.
- Existing models may need extension to fully account for cross-language effects.
Conclusions:
- Cross-language ambiguity resolution is complex, influenced by multiple interacting factors.
- Further research is needed to directly compare within- and cross-language ambiguity in the same individuals.
- A comprehensive model must account for frequency, semantic context, and language context interactions.
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