The impact of overlapping mappings on the acquisition and retrieval of word meanings

Our study investigates statistical word learning in conditions mimicking bilingualism to have further insights into how statistical regularities are accumulated if multiple mappings are acquired (1:2; one word maps onto two objects) and how their learning differs from words that only map onto one meaning (1:1; one word maps onto one object). In learning phase 1 (LP1), participants will complete a cross-situational word learning task acquiring both 1:1 and 1:2 mappings. In learning phase 2 (LP2), each word previously acquired will receive one new meaning to investigate how easily different mappings are remapped. We will analyse both accuracy and reaction times (RTs). We predict that it will be harder to acquire 1:2 than 1:1 mappings, but it will be easier to remap 1:2 than 1:1 mappings. Since RTs are not yet explored in this paradigm, we will conduct exploratory analyses regarding the RTs. unknown other