Language contrasts and their effect on memory in the context of witness narratives: A cross-linguistic study of English, German and Czech motion event

目击者叙述背景下的语言对比及其对记忆的影响：英语、德语和捷克语运动事件的跨语言研究

• 批准号: 2602273
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of East Anglia
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2602273
• 关键词: Language; contrasts; their; effect; memory

The aim of this research is to uncover how language contrasts affect information content of witness narratives and what the cross-linguistic differences are between English, German and Czech. The focus is on three aspects of motion events - complexity, placement and intentionality. We want to determine what information speakers habitually provide and if their descriptions influence their memory when recalling certain aspects of the witnessed events. In witness narratives, information on movement of people and objects, their position as well as the intention is crucial for assignment of blame. The knowledge of these previously unexplored language contrasts will aid in the efficient elicitation of information from witnesses and allow for effective prompting for information. Raising awareness of these differences and their impact within the legal context will improve access to justice for speakers of minority languages within majority language systems (such as Czech speakers within the EU).The research will follow an attested methodology. I will conduct three experiments with three groups of 50 monolingual native speakers (English, German and Czech). The first experiment will examine the lexicalisation of complex motion events, the second will be focused on the lexicalisation of the final object position (vertical or horizontal) in placement events and the third experiment on the expression of intentionality. All three experiments will also include a test of the participants' memory when recalling the relevant aspects of the events. The stimuli for this research consist of short videos of complex motion and caused events which have already been secured. The participants will be played several short videos and asked to provide a brief verbal description. After a non-linguistic distractor task, they will be asked to recall details of the events by answering neutral questions and ticking statements (for example if an object was placed in a vertical or horizontal position or if it was dropped accidentally or on purpose). This will be transcribed and analysed to gain understanding of the used lexicalisation patterns, the contrast between the three languages as well as the potential effect on memory.This research could potentially lead to positive changes in professional practice of police officers and legal interpreters. Their knowledge of the contrasts and the strategies to overcome them would aid efficient elicitation and mediation of information in police and court settings. It would ensure greater fairness in the interview process and treatment of witnesses and victims in monolingual and multilingual legal communicative situations.

这项研究的目的是发现语言对比如何影响证人叙事的信息内容以及英语，德语和捷克语之间的跨语言差异。重点是运动事件的三个​​方面 - 复杂性，放置和故意性。我们想确定说话者习惯性地提供的信息，以及他们的描述是否会在回顾见证事件的某些方面时影响他们的记忆。在证人叙述中，有关人和物体运动的信息，他们的立场和意图对于责备至关重要。这些以前未开发的语言对比的了解将有助于有效地从证人那里启发信息，并有效提示信息。提高人们对这些差异及其在法律背景下的影响的认识将改善多数语言系统中少数族裔语言的说法（例如欧盟内的捷克语演讲者）的司法障碍。研究将遵循证明的方法。我将与三组50个单语的母语人士（英语，德语和捷克语）进行三组实验。第一个实验将检查复杂运动事件的词汇化，第二个实验将集中于位置事件中最终对象位置（垂直或水平）的词汇化以及第三个实验意图表达。在回顾事件的相关方面时，这三个实验还将包括对参与者的记忆的测试。这项研究的刺激包括复杂运动的简短视频，并引起已经确保的事件。参与者将播放几个简短的视频，并要求提供简短的口头描述。在非语言干扰器任务之后，他们将被要求通过回答中性问题和滴答声明来回顾事件的详细信息（例如，是否将对象放置在垂直或水平位置，或者是意外或故意掉落的）。这将进行转录和分析，以了解对使用的词汇化模式，三种语言之间的对比以及对记忆的潜在影响。这项研究可能会导致警察和法律口译员的专业实践的积极变化。他们对对比和克服它们的策略的了解将有助于有效的警察和法院环境中信息调解。这将确保在面试过程中更公平，并在单语和多语言法律交流情况下对证人和受害者的待遇。