Brain signatures of nativeness in second language acquisition III

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"Brain signatures of nativeness in second language acquisition III." The present proposal brings together linguists, experimental psychologists, and neuroscientists from three countries (Canada, China, and the UK) in order to clarify a number of timely questions in the domain of second language (L2) acquisition. The first project focuses on first language (L1) attrition in Chinese immigrants, who have lived in Montreal, have become dominant in their English L2, and report losing their L1. Using brain wave measures (ERPs), we will compare the neural activity of these attriters' to 4 control groups to identify the mechanisms of language loss. Our group is already one of the two leading labs in this area internationally. The project is a collaboration with a lab in China, which will give the PhD student working on this study an outstanding opportunity to get immersed in an international endeavour, while perfecting his already excellent command of Chinese as well as his advanced research skills. A second project aims at identifying the neurocognitive similarities and differences between L1 and L2 acquisition. We have already developed an experimental paradigm (picture-sentence matching in French) that can be used in both children acquiring their L1 and adults learning their L2. Comparing the brain activity of both groups will reveal if our hypothesis is correct, according to which neural processes in both L1 and L2 acquisition follow a similar trajectory, driven by proficiency levels. If so, our current model for L2 acquisition could also be applied to child L1 learners. The third study is another collaborative project with colleagues at Queen Mary in London. Previous research strongly suggests that morphosyntactic processing difficulties in L2 learners can be overcome with increasing exposure to the new language. Here we try to extend this research to Spanish learners of English who apply their Spanish phonotactic rules' to English and pronounce words like sport' as esport'. A dissociation between production and perception errors led us to a new ERP design that will help to clarify the underlying mechnisms and test, if long L2 exposure and overcome the problems. The last project will replicate a previous study that showed that implicit learners learn a second language different from explicitly instructed learners. As this study was run with an artificial miniature language, it is unclear if the data can be generalized. Our replication in the classroom will answer this question. Stage III of this research program promises to generate important data that are not only relevant for linguists, psychologists and neuroscientists, but also for language teachers and immigrants in Canada and elsewhere. PhD students will play a crucial role and receive world-class training in top-notch neuroscientific techniques. The grant will ensure that Canada will continue to be among the leaders in top-notch research on second language acquisition.