Error-based learning and lexical competition in word production: Evidence from multilingual naming

We tested whether learning associated to lexical selection is error-based, and whether lexical selection is competitive by assessing the after-effects of producing words on subsequent production of semantic competitors differing in degree of error (translation equivalents). Speakers named pictures or words in one language (part A), and then named the same set of pictures (old set) and a new set in another language (part B). RTs for the old set (i.e., translation equivalents) were larger than for the new set (i.e., items which not have been named previously in another language). Supporting that learning is error-based, this cost was mostly larger after naming in a language with a higher degree of error (L2 vs. L1). Supporting that lexical selection is competitive, after naming in a language with a high degree of error (L3), the cost was larger for naming in another language with a high degree of error (L2 vs. L1).

本研究通过考察词汇产出对后续产出错误程度各异的语义竞争者（semantic competitors，即翻译等价物（translation equivalents））所产生的后效影响，旨在检验与词汇选择（lexical selection）相关的学习是否基于错误（error-based），以及词汇选择是否具有竞争性。参与者先以一种语言对图片或词汇完成命名（实验A部分），随后改用另一种语言对同一组图片（旧刺激集）与全新图片组进行命名（实验B部分）。结果显示，旧刺激集（即翻译等价物）的反应时（Reaction Time，RT）显著长于新刺激集（即此前未用其他语言命名过的项目）。该命名代价在使用错误程度更高的语言完成命名后更为显著（第二语言L2 vs. 第一语言L1），这一结果支持了词汇选择相关学习基于错误的假设。而在使用高错误程度语言（L3）完成命名后，当参与者改用另一高错误程度语言进行命名时，命名代价进一步增大（L2 vs. L1），这一结果支持了词汇选择具有竞争性的假设。