Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2025
08:32
Examining Online Syntactic Processing of Spoken Complex Sentences in Chinese Using Dual-Modal Interference Tasks
Published on: September 5, 2019
5.7K
Bilingual Adolescents' Complex Syntax Production in Both Languages Across Conversational and Expository Contexts
Eve Julie Rioux1, Elin Thordardottir1
1School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Summary
Adolescent bilinguals showed similar complex syntax skills in conversation and expository discourse, with language exposure influencing both. Expository contexts revealed more complex syntax than conversational ones.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Developmental Psychology
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Bilingual development is influenced by language-specific exposure.
- Adolescent syntactic development in bilinguals requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine complex syntactic production in adolescent bilinguals.
- To compare syntactic skills in conversational and expository discourse.
- To investigate the impact of language exposure on bilingual syntactic development.
Main Methods:
- Studied English-French bilinguals (EFbil) and French L1 speakers (aged 12-17).
- Collected conversational and expository speech samples in both French and English.
- Analyzed syntactic complexity using mean length of T-units, clausal density, and subordinate clause diversity.
Main Results:
- Both groups produced more complex syntax in expository discourse than in conversation.
- Significant differences emerged in French subordinate clause diversity between groups.
- Language exposure impacted both languages of EFbil, especially in conversation.
Conclusions:
- This is the first study on spontaneous syntactic use in bilingual adolescents' two languages.
- Contexts (expository vs. conversational) provide unique insights into syntactic development.
- Previous language exposure significantly affects bilinguals' syntactic skills in both languages and contexts.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Language Development
397
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
397
01:27Language and Cognition
375
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
375
01:24Components of Language
321
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.
321
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
79
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
79
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
919
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
919
01:28Lateralization
364
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
364