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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody

Published on: September 27, 2024

The temporal dynamics of first versus second language production.

Kristof Strijkers¹, Cristina Baus, Elin Runnqvist

¹Laboratoire de Psychologie Cognitive, CNRS and Université d'Aix-Marseille, 13331 Marseille, France.

Brain and Language

|August 28, 2013

Summary

This study reveals that second language (L2) naming disadvantages emerge early in lexical access, influenced by weaker word representations and increased language control demands in bilinguals.

Keywords:

Bilingualism ERPs L2 disadvantage Language control Language production Word frequency

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Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody

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Published on: September 27, 2024

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Published on: July 1, 2015

Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task

Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task

Published on: February 26, 2020

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Psycholinguistics
Bilingualism Research

Background:

Bilingual language processing is complex, with ongoing debate about the origins of differences between first language (L1) and second language (L2) production.
Understanding the temporal dynamics of L2 production is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying bilingualism.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the temporal origin of processing differences between L1 and L2 production in highly proficient bilinguals.
To determine whether language effects in event-related brain potentials (ERPs) coincide with lexical frequency effects during object naming.

Main Methods:

Forty highly proficient bilinguals participated in the study.
Participants performed an object naming task in both L1 and L2, with stimuli varying in lexical frequency.
Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded during the naming task.

Main Results:

Electrophysiological differences related to response language emerged at the early P2 peak (approximately 140-220 ms).
These language effects coincided with the onset of the lexical frequency effect, but only when participants switched from L1 to L2 naming.
No significant language effect was observed in ERPs when participants named objects in the reverse direction (L2 to L1).

Conclusions:

The L2 naming disadvantage originates at the initial stage of lexical access.
This disadvantage is attributed to both reduced representational strength of L2 words and heightened language control demands for L2 processing.