Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Neuroscience

Supervisor

Batterink, Laura J.

Abstract

Statistical learning studies have focused primarily on artificial languages, despite having an overall goal of providing insight into how we learn natural languages. Here, we investigate the impact of statistical learning on processing phonemic regularities within a second language in adult learners. Participants passively listened to Italian (L2 exposure group) or English (control group) podcasts for three weeks and completed a word rating task with ERP recorded before and after this listening period. Behaviourally, the L2 exposure group showed a nonsignificant trend towards increased sensitivity to phonotactic probability over the three weeks. At the ERP level, only the L2 group showed a significant change in nonword processing from session 1 to session 2, with significantly greater ERP negativity from 300-800ms to nonwords compared to words at session 2. These results provide preliminary indications that statistical learning may be leveraged to learn phonemic regularities in natural language, extending artificial language research.

Summary for Lay Audience

This thesis delves into how we can pick up a new language without actively trying. Traditionally, research in second language (L2) learning has emphasized explicit methods, where learners consciously study vocabulary and grammar rules. However, recent studies suggest that our brains possess the ability to passively absorb types of linguistic patterns through implicit learning akin to how we naturally acquire our first language.

In this study, I explore the impact of implicit learning on the processing of L2 sound patterns in adult learners. Participants were assigned to either the L2 exposure group, who passively listened to Italian podcasts daily over three weeks, or the control group, who listened to English podcasts. Before and after the three-week listening period, participants engaged in a word rating task while their brainwave activity was recorded. Specifically, they rated how confident they were that the word they heard was a real Italian word. I hypothesized that those exposed to Italian would show improvements in differentiating between Italian words and nonwords after the three weeks.

Following the listening period, the L2 exposure group demonstrated an increased sensitivity to L2 sound patterns compared to the control group. Test items that contained more probable sound sequences were rated higher than test items with lower probability sequences; however, this trend was not significant. In contrast, participants in the control group performed significantly worse on the task after the listening period.

Brainwave recordings revealed significant differences in brain activity between words and nonwords in the L2 exposure group before and after exposure, where the nonwords and words elicited different responses at post-test, but not at pre-test. This result indicates that even without intentional learning, prior experience with a language’s pattern influences neural processing of linguistic stimuli, demonstrating that the brain can pick up on sound regularities in an unfamiliar language just through listening.

These findings shed light on the potential utility of passive exposure to facilitate language learning in adult learners. Understanding how our brains rapidly adapt to new linguistic environments helps demonstrate the importance of immersive language experiences in second language acquisition, informing new second language training approaches.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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