Asymmetrical Priming Effects: An Exploration of Trilingual German–English–French Lexico-Semantic Memory

Tytus, Agnieszka Ewa

doi:10.1007/s10936-017-9512-0

Published: 01 July 2017

Asymmetrical Priming Effects: An Exploration of Trilingual German–English–French Lexico-Semantic Memory

Agnieszka Ewa Tytus¹

Journal of Psycholinguistic Research volume 46, pages 1625–1644 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

The growing number of multilingual speakers poses an interesting question as to the way in which three or more languages are represented in the memory of a language user. The Revised Hierarchical Model (Kroll and Stewart in J Mem Lang 33: 149–174, 1994) or the Sense Model (Finkbeiner et al. in J Mem Lang 51(1), 1–22, 2004) skillfully capture the prediction regarding two languages, with the lexical level being separate and the conceptual one being unified or distributed to a varying degree. In this set of experiments, we employed primed animacy decision tasks to address the lexico-semantic representation of trilingual German–English–French speakers. The comparison of reaction times has revealed priming effects from L1 to L2 and from L2 to L1, both with prime duration of 100 and 50 ms; a priming asymmetry effect between the L2 and L3 language directions; and no interaction between L1 and L3. The aggregated findings point to a hybrid representation, with both compound and coordinate representations being possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

Universität Mannheim, Anglistische Linguistik, Schloss EW 266, 68131, Mannheim, Germany
Agnieszka Ewa Tytus

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Agnieszka Ewa Tytus
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Correspondence to Agnieszka Ewa Tytus.

Appendices

Appendix 1: List of Stimuli

Animate			Inanimate
English	German	French	English	German	French
Painter	Maler	peintre	Garage	Werkstatt	atelier
Pig	Schwein	cochon	Pocket	Tasche	poche
Deer	Hirsch	cerf	Table	Tisch	table
Bird	Vogel	oiseau	Chair	Stuhl	chaise
Salesman	Verkäufer	vendeur	Bottle	Flasche	bouteille
Servant	Diener	servant	Window	Fenster	fenêtre
Surgeon	Chirurg	chirugien	Belt	Gürtel	ceinture
Tailor	Schneider	couturier	Scarf	Schal	écharpe
Translator	Übersetzer	traducteur	Dress	Kleid	robe
Aunt	Tante	tante	Glasses	Brille	lunettes
Plumber	Klempner	plombier	Stationery	Schreibwaren	fournitures
Poet	Dichter	poète	Mirror	Spiegel	miroir
Hairdresser	Friseur	coiffeur	Door	Tür	porte
Butterfly	Schmetterling	papillon	Shop	Geschäft	magasin
Farmer	Landwirt	agriculteur	Barne	Scheune	grange
Lawyer	Rechtsanwalt	avocat	Jewelry	Schmuck	bijoux
Lecutrer	Dozent	conférencier	Necklace	Halskette	collier
Squirrel	Eichhörnchen	écureuil	Armchair	Sessel	fauteuil
Caterpillar	Raupe	chenille	Closet	Schrank	placard
Landlord	Vermieter	propriétaire	Present	Geschenk	cadeau
Monkey	Affe	singe	Pillow	Kissen	oreiller
Woman	Frau	femme	Rubber	Gummi	caoutchouc
Maid	Dienstmädchen	domestique	Stamp	Briefmarke	timbre
Director	Regisseur	réalisateur	Roof	Dach	toit
Animal	Tier	animal	Stone	Stein	caillou
Dentist	Zahnarzt	dentiste	Map	Landkarte	carte
Lion	Löwe	lion	Coat	Mantel	manteau
Lobster	Hummer	homard	Piano	Klavier	piano
Cild	Kind	enfant	Castle	Burg	château
Eagel	Adler	aigle	Doll	Puppe	poupée
Lizard	Eidechse	lézard	Train	Zug	train
Artist	Künstler	artiste	Bench	Bank	banc
Butcher	Metzger	boucher	Button	Knopf	bouton
Explorer	Forscher	chercheur	Carpet	Teppich	tapis
Pharmacist	Apotheker	pharmacien	Folder	Ordner	dossier
Inventor	Erfinder	inventeur	Swing	Schaukel	escarpolette
Hunter	Jäger	chasseur	Court	Gericht	tribunal
Warden	Aufseher	gardien	Jail	Gefängnis	prison
Waiter	Kellner	serveur	Station	Bahnhof	gare
Boy	Junge	garçon	Tights	Strumpfhose	collant
Queen	Königin	reine	Glove	Handschuh	gant
Shark	Hai	requin	Skirt	Rock	jupe
Donkey	Esel	âne	Shirt	Hemd	chemise
Snail	Schnecke	escargot	Towel	Handtuch	serviette
Turkey	Truthahn	dinde	Box	Kiste	boîte
Seal	Seehund	phoque	Key	Schlüssel	clé
Drummer	Trommler	batteur	Floor	Boden	sol
Chick	Küken	poussin	Pen	Stift	stylo
Doctor	Arzt	médecin	Library	Bücherei	bibliothèque
Driver	Fahrer	conducteur	Church	Kirche	église
Sailor	Matrose	marin	Suit	Anzug	costume

Mailman	Postbote	facteur	Clothes	Kleidung	vêtements
Accountant	Buchhalter	comptable	Shelf	Regal	étagère
Horse	Pferd	cheval	Stool	Hocker	tabouret
Duck	Ente	canard	Curtain	Vorhang	rideau
Husband	Ehemann	mari	Desk	Schreibtisch	bureau
Human	Mensch	personne	Clock	Uhr	pendule
Player	Spieler	joueur	Bucket	Eimer	seau
Hedgehog	Igel	hérisson	Bicycle	Fahrrad	vélo
Cockroach	Kakerlake	cafard	Pencil	Bleistift	crayon
Wife	Ehefrau	épouse	Game	Spiel	jeu
Groom	Bräutigam	marié	Car	Auto	voiture
Diver	Taucher	plongeur	Plane	Flugzeug	avion
Teacher	Lehrer	professeur	Plate	Teller	assiette
Adviser	Berater	conseiller	Beach	Strand	plage
Rabbit	Hase	lapin	Glue	Kleber	colle
Goat	Ziege	chèvre	Viola	Bratsche	alto
Puppy	Welpe	chiot	Tray	Tablett	plateau
Ant	Ameise	fourmi	Watch	Armbanduhr	montre
Piglet	Ferkel	porcelet	Sink	Spüle	évier
Singer	Sänger	chanteur	Spoon	Löffel	cuillère
Student	Schüler	étudiant	Umbrella	Regenschirm	parapluie

Appendix 2: Language Background Questionnaire

The questionnaire was administered in German, here we provide an English translation of the questions that were used.

1.
How old are you?
2.
Are you male or female?
3.
Which program of study do you follow?

Bachelor/Master/PhD/Other
4.
Where were you born?
5.
Which languages do you speak?
6.
In which order have you learnt your languages?
7.
How old were you when you started learning English/French?
8.
Where have you learnt English/French?

Home/School/University/Other
9.
Is one of your languages more dominant than other?

Yes/No
10.
If yes, which one is it?
11.
In what kind of context do you use German/English/French?

Family/Friends/School/University/Work/Other
12.
How often do you use German/English/French?

Never/Always
13.
How confident do you feel using German/English/French?

Not at all confident/Very confident
14.
How would you evaluate the following language skills: speaking, writing, reading, hearing, use of grammar in German/English/French?

Very weak/Very strong

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Tytus, A.E. Asymmetrical Priming Effects: An Exploration of Trilingual German–English–French Lexico-Semantic Memory. J Psycholinguist Res 46, 1625–1644 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-017-9512-0

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Published: 01 July 2017
Issue Date: December 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-017-9512-0

Asymmetrical Priming Effects: An Exploration of Trilingual German–English–French Lexico-Semantic Memory

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