The dynamics of spoken word recognition in bilinguals

Abstract

This study examined whether bilinguals automatically activate lexical options from both of their languages when performing a picture matching task in their dominant language (L1) by using event related potentials. English-French bilinguals and English monolinguals performed a picture-spoken word matching task with three conditions: Match (BEACH-beach), unrelated mismatch (BEACH-tack), and L2 onset competitor mismatch (BEACH-plaid; plaid sounds like plage, the French word for beach). Critically, bilinguals, but not monolinguals, showed reduced N400s for L2-cohort vs. unrelated mismatches. The results provide clear evidence that when bilinguals identify pictures, they automatically activate lexical options from both languages, even when expecting oral input from only their dominant language. N400 attenuation suggests bilinguals activate but do not expect L2 lexical options.