Neurolinguistic measures of typological effects in multilingual transfer: introducing an ERP methodology

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new approach using brain activity measurements to study how language knowledge transfers in learning a third language.

Contribution

The paper introduces ERP methodology to study typological effects in multilingual transfer, complementing behavioral experiments.

Findings

Generative third language acquisition data can enhance understanding of language representation in the mind.

ERP experiments can provide insights into cognitive economy in language acquisition.

Neurolinguistic methods offer a complementary approach to behavioral studies in L3 research.

Abstract

This article has two main objectives. First, we offer an introduction to the subfield of generative third language (L3) acquisition. Concerned primarily with modeling initial stages transfer of morphosyntax, one goal of this program is to show how initial stages L3 data make significant contributions toward a better understanding of how the mind represents language and how (cognitive) economy constrains acquisition processes more generally. Our second objective is to argue for and demonstrate how this subfield will benefit from a neuro/psycholinguistic methodological approach, such as event-related potential experiments, to complement the claims currently made on the basis of exclusively behavioral experiments.

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