The dynamics of multilingualism
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Wander Lowie
Abstract
Levelt’s blueprint of speech production and perception (Levelt 1989; Levelt, Roelofs, & Meyer 1999) has been widely accepted and is well established. One of the crucial characteristics of the model is its modularity, which is required to account for the speed with which we speak (about two to three words per second). At the same time, the modular principle of the model is also its Achilles heel. In current dynamic approaches to language processing, it is assumed that the language system is not stable and static, but instable and dynamic. In these approaches, language production and comprehension are not seen as sequential processing in a series of separate modules, but as an integrated dynamic system that is characterised by a multidimensional state space with numerous attractors at different levels. In the wake of earlier suggestions to adapt the Levelt model to the multilingual speaker (De Bot 1992; De Bot 2000), this paper discusses the robustness of the model to a dynamic language system and tests to what extent it is in line with a dynamic, usage based approach to language processing.
Abstract
Levelt’s blueprint of speech production and perception (Levelt 1989; Levelt, Roelofs, & Meyer 1999) has been widely accepted and is well established. One of the crucial characteristics of the model is its modularity, which is required to account for the speed with which we speak (about two to three words per second). At the same time, the modular principle of the model is also its Achilles heel. In current dynamic approaches to language processing, it is assumed that the language system is not stable and static, but instable and dynamic. In these approaches, language production and comprehension are not seen as sequential processing in a series of separate modules, but as an integrated dynamic system that is characterised by a multidimensional state space with numerous attractors at different levels. In the wake of earlier suggestions to adapt the Levelt model to the multilingual speaker (De Bot 1992; De Bot 2000), this paper discusses the robustness of the model to a dynamic language system and tests to what extent it is in line with a dynamic, usage based approach to language processing.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Introduction: From structure to chaos 1
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Part I. Multilingualism
- Psycholinguistic perspectives on language processing in bilinguals 15
- Triggered code-switching 37
- Working memory capacity, inhibitory control, and proficiency in a second language 59
- Explanations of associations between L1 and L2 literacy skills 85
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Part II. Language attrition
- The acquisition, attrition, and relearning of mission vocabulary 115
- Second language attrition 135
- Contact x time 155
- The shifting structure of emotion semantics across immigrant generations 177
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Part III. Language and aging
- Bilingualism, code-switching and aging 201
- Language reversion versus general cognitive decline 221
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Part IV. DST
- A dynamic model of expert-novice co-adaptation during language learning and acquisition 235
- The dynamics of multilingualism 267
- Epilogue: Twenty years of modeling bilingualism 289
- Address for correspondence 303
- Index 305
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Introduction: From structure to chaos 1
-
Part I. Multilingualism
- Psycholinguistic perspectives on language processing in bilinguals 15
- Triggered code-switching 37
- Working memory capacity, inhibitory control, and proficiency in a second language 59
- Explanations of associations between L1 and L2 literacy skills 85
-
Part II. Language attrition
- The acquisition, attrition, and relearning of mission vocabulary 115
- Second language attrition 135
- Contact x time 155
- The shifting structure of emotion semantics across immigrant generations 177
-
Part III. Language and aging
- Bilingualism, code-switching and aging 201
- Language reversion versus general cognitive decline 221
-
Part IV. DST
- A dynamic model of expert-novice co-adaptation during language learning and acquisition 235
- The dynamics of multilingualism 267
- Epilogue: Twenty years of modeling bilingualism 289
- Address for correspondence 303
- Index 305
