Lexico-semantic Activation of Translation Equivalents During the Attentional Blink

Abstract

The attentional blink (AB) refers to the impaired identification of the second target (T2) when presented within approximately 500ms after the first target (T1). Although the AB is eliminated when two targets can be integrated into a single compound word, it remains unclear whether the lexico-semantic organization of translation equivalents modulates the magnitude of the AB. In the present study, we examined consecutive targets’ processing in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm using Chinese-English translation equivalents and non-translation equivalents. The results demonstrated that an overall presence of the AB effect was observed when T1 and T2 were non-translation equivalents. However, the AB effect disappeared completely when the two target words were translation equivalents. Taken together, these findings suggest that Chinese-English bilinguals are translating intentionally between Mandarin and English, which facilitates lexical access to word meaning from the two languages at the initial stages of visual word processing. Furthermore, such lexico-semantic activation of translation equivalents attributes to the elimination of the AB.

Appendix

Translation equivalents		Non-translation equivalents
Chinese-English	English-Chinese	Chinese-English	English-Chinese
星—star	book—书	锁—scar	cow—岛
组—team	wine—酒	泉—type	food—图
碟—disk	ice—冰	马—train	wood—园
洞—hole	lake—湖	手—cup	room—皮
声—sound	fish—鱼	药—hand	bike—坟
茶—tea	pool—池	风—pill	child—窗
鸟—bird	gun—枪	蛙—wind	boss—谷
课—class	face—脸	地—candy	cook—词
骨—bone	road—路	病—corn	arm—棉
海—sea	line—线	菜—phone	milk—票
雪—snow	iron—铁	火—chess	thing—笛
草—grass	chair—椅	胸—land	hair—瓶
包—bag	town—城	锅—peach	ear—花
金—gold	paint—画	币—page	tail—事
布—cloth	egg—蛋	腿—money	bee—耳
家—home	boat—船	脚—dust	nose—猫
诗—poem	clock—钟	墙—smile	bear—桃
齿—tooth	river—河	页—wall	cat—梨
歌—song	tree—树	心—boy	side—兔
鞋—shoe	blood—血	天—rat	dad—面
床—bed	rain—雨	糖—pan	beef—灯
眼—eye	tax—税	扇—smoke	park—楼
油—oil	light—光	鸡—coin	toy—琴
泪—tear	dog—狗	灰—leg	box—房
球—ball	watch—表	屋—foot	zoo—根
桌—desk	car—车	壳—door	key—电
蛇—snake	mouse—鼠	柜—heat	gift—姐
虎—tiger	head—头	桥—day	card—妹
笔—pen	cloud—云	沟—air	bus—江
沙—sand	duck—鸭	塔—work	coat—脑
饭—rice	paper—纸	烟—girl	ship—机
肉—meat	hat—帽	信—city	time—衣