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).

本研究旨在检验两个核心问题：与词汇选择（lexical selection）相关的学习是否基于错误，以及词汇选择是否具有竞争性。检验方法为：通过评估词汇产出对后续产出不同错误程度的语义竞争者（semantic competitors，即翻译对等词（translation equivalents））所产生的后效应开展相关实验。

实验流程如下：被试需先在一种语言中完成图片或单词命名任务（任务A），随后在另一种语言中分别命名同一组图片（旧刺激集）与全新图片集（任务B）。

实验结果显示：旧刺激集（即此前已在另一种语言中命名过的翻译对等词）的反应时（reaction times，RTs）显著长于新刺激集（即此前未在另一种语言中被命名过的项目）。

针对"学习基于错误"这一假设，该命名代价在以更高错误程度语言（第二语言L2 vs 母语L1）完成命名任务后更为显著，此结果为该假设提供了支持证据。

针对"词汇选择具有竞争性"这一结论，在高错误程度语言（第三语言L3）完成命名任务后，在另一种高错误程度语言（L2 vs L1）中进行命名所产生的代价同样更大，此结果同样为该结论提供了支持。