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Related Concept Videos

Language01:16

Language

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Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
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Components of Language01:24

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Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
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Information is everywhere and its presentation—such as how and when items are presented—can impact our perceptions and decisions surrounding the info. This broad concept umbrellas framing effects—influences that occur due to the way information is framed in its appearance, whether it’s purely the order or the specific wording of a message. Let’s take a look at numerous ways in which two versions of something can objectively say the same thing, yet we respond in...
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Eye Tracking During Visually Situated Language Comprehension: Flexibility and Limitations in Uncovering Visual Context Effects
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Structural alignment and its prosocial effects in first and second languages.

Loes Abrahams1, Robert J Hartsuiker2, Filip De Fruyt1

  • 1Ghent University, Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

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Summary

This study found that while bilinguals and native speakers align language structures similarly, only native English speakers showed increased prosocial behavior after exposure to this alignment. This suggests a difference in how language alignment affects helpfulness between L1 and L2 speakers.

Keywords:
BilingualismPrimingProsocial behaviorStructural alignmentVerbal mimicry

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Area of Science:

  • Psycholinguistics
  • Bilingualism Studies
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Structural alignment, the tendency to unconsciously imitate grammatical constructions, is a key aspect of language use.
  • Previous research has explored structural alignment, but its impact on prosocial behavior, particularly in bilingual populations, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate structural alignment in Spanish-English bilinguals (English L2) and native English speakers (English L1).
  • To examine the effects of structural alignment on subsequent prosocial behavior in these two groups.

Main Methods:

  • A scripted picture description task was employed, where participants and a confederate described pictures alternately.
  • Participants were exposed to structural alignment by the confederate in a controlled experimental setting.
  • Prosocial behavior was measured by the willingness of participants to help with an additional task.

Main Results:

  • Both English L1 and L2 speakers demonstrated comparable levels of structural alignment during the picture description task.
  • Following exposure to structural alignment, native English speakers (L1) exhibited a significant increase in prosocial behavior.
  • Bilingual participants (L2) did not show a comparable increase in prosocial behavior after the alignment manipulation.

Conclusions:

  • Structural alignment occurs similarly in both native and non-native speakers of English.
  • Exposure to structural alignment enhances prosocial behavior in native speakers but not in bilinguals.
  • The findings suggest that language experience (L1 vs. L2) may modulate the link between linguistic alignment and social behavior.