Neural Representations of Non-native Speech Reflect Proficiency and Interference from Native Language Knowledge.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Linguistics
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Foreign language learning requires new auditory-to-linguistic mappings.
• Proficient non-native speakers often show native language interference.
• Previous studies may overemphasize interference due to task-specific demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate neural evidence of foreign language processing and native language interference.
• Examine effects in a naturalistic story listening task.
• Assess the impact of speaker accent and listener proficiency.

Main Methods:

• Electroencephalography (EEG) recorded from 39 Dutch native speakers listening to English.
• Multivariate temporal response functions modeled brain responses.
• Acoustic and language models analyzed speech stimuli.

Main Results:

• Dutch language statistics activated when listening to accented English (Dutch accent).
• No significant interference observed with a native English accent.
• Increased listener proficiency correlated with decreased secondary acoustic speech representations (post-200ms).

Conclusions:

• Naturalistic listening reduces native language interference.
• Native language accents can increase interference by activating native language representations.
• Interference likely involves competition within a single word recognition system.
• Proficiency enhances acoustic-phonetic processing in foreign language listening.