Using Cognates to Improve Bilingual Verbal Assessment

事实上，还没有为双语者开发标准化的神经心理测试，对正常的双语者在现有的神经心理测量中应该如何表现知之甚少。大量的实验证据表明，双语者在测试“同源词”(即形式相似的跨语言翻译，例如西班牙语单词“ruta”的意思是“水果”)时表现出更好的表现。本申请者建议评估同源地位对命名、单词识别、流利性和言语记忆测试的影响。假设同源词能够更全面、更准确地评估双语者的认知过程，因为同源词是跨越双语者两种不同语言能力水平之间的加工障碍的桥梁。除了它们的临床实用性，本研究收集的数据将为发展双语者语言加工的理论模型提供有用的约束。申请者要求通过以患者为导向的研究职业发展奖(K23)资助五年，以提高她进行研究的技能，从而提高双语神经心理评估的敏感度。申请人在双语语言处理(英语、西班牙语和希伯来语)方面的研究背景、神经心理评估的临床培训和认知神经心理学的学术培训为这项工作提供了基础。拟议的培训目标包括1)增强使用多种实验范式的技能，2)深入了解双语研究和理论的最新发展，3)提高对老年人进行研究的技能，以及4)使用自然(不是实验控制的)变量进行数据分析的高级培训。申请者需要这些技能来进行创新的、全面的和理论上有动机的研究，以开发评估双语者认知技能的改进方法。

Virtually no standardized neuropsychological tests have been developed for bilinguals and very little is known about how normal bilinguals should perform on currently available neuropsychological measures. Considerable experimental evidence suggests that bilinguals demonstrate improved performance when tested on 'cognates' (i.e., cross-language translations that are similar in form, such as the Spanish word 'fruta' which means 'fruit'). This applicant proposes to evaluate the influence of cognate status on tests of naming, word recognition, fluency, and verbal memory. It is hypothesized that cognates will provide a more complete and accurate assessment of cognitive processing in bilinguals because cognates represent a bridge across the processing barrier between bilinguals' differing levels of competence in two different languages. In addition to their clinical utility the data collected in the proposed research will provide useful constraints for developing theoretical models of language processing in bilinguals. The applicant is requesting five years of funding through a Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) to enhance her skills for conducting research that will improve sensitivity in bilingual neuropsychological assessment. The applicant's strong background of research with bilingual language processing (in English, Spanish, and Hebrew), clinical training in neuropsychological assessment, and academic training in cognitive neuropsychology, provide the foundation for this work. The proposed training goals include acquiring 1) enhanced skills for using multiple experimental paradigms, 2) in-depth knowledge of current developments in bilingual research and theory, 3) increased skills for conducting research on older adults, and 4) advanced training in data analysis with naturalistic (not experimentally controlled) variables. These skills are needed for the applicant to pursue innovative, comprehensive, and theoretically motivated research on developing improved methods for assessing cognitive skills in bilinguals.