Neural correlates of quantity processing of Chinese numeral classifiers

Her, One-Soon; Chen, Ying‐Chun; Yen, Nai-Shing

doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2017.10.007

Cited by 6 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Moreover, our results also showed that the mathematical value of C/M and physical size may interfere with each other to some extent, suggesting that these two dimensions may share common cognitive mechanisms [ 21 ]. This is consistent with the previous neuroimaging finding that showed processing numeral classifiers, numbers, dot arrays, and number words elicited conjunct activations in the IPS, which has been shown to engage in magnitude representation [ 9 – 11 ]. Last but not least, results from the current experiment not only demonstrated with a different task that C/Ms denote mathematical values (C = 1, M ≠ 1) but also verified that the relation between Num and C/M is multiplication.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…In conclusion, this study contributed to the literature by offering empirical evidence of quantity processing of C/Ms. While Cui et al [ 8 ] reported that the neural correlates of processing numeral classifiers was similar to that of tool nouns instead of that of numbers and dot arrays using the semantic distance comparison task, Her et al [ 7 , 9 ] followed the same paradigm but showed different behavioural and neuroimaging results, which suggested that C/Ms represent quantity. Moreover, our results also showed that the mathematical value of C/M and physical size may interfere with each other to some extent, suggesting that these two dimensions may share common cognitive mechanisms [ 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, empirical studies examining quantity processing of C/Ms are scarce and have shown inconsistent results. While the findings by Cui et al [ 8 ] do not support this mathematical view of C/Ms, two more recent studies by Her et al [ 7 ] and Her, Chen, & Yen [ 9 ] do support this view.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Her et al [ 9 ] further examined the neural correlates of C/Ms with fixed values by conducting the same task using fMRI. They found that the numeral classifiers induced greater neural activities than tool nouns in the bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL), middle frontal gyrus (MFG), right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), and left lingual gyrus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantity processing of Chinese numeral classifiers: Distance and congruity effects

2018

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A numeral classifier is required between a numeral and a noun in Chinese, which comes in two varieties, sortal classifier (C) and mensural classifier (M). A recent linguistic theory suggests that C/Ms carry quantity information, where C and M converge as the multiplicand, with numeral as the multiplier, but C and M diverge in the mathematical values they denote. However, previous empirical studies were sparse and presented inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate the mathematical function of C/Ms using the number-size task in which participants had to choose from two C/M phrases the one that represents a larger quantity or in a larger font size. If C/M phrases engage quantity processing like numbers, distance and congruity effects should emerge. As expected, participants performed more accurately and faster at comparing two distant stimuli than two proximate ones, indicating that the mathematical values of C/M were represented like a mental number line. Moreover, participants' performance was partially influenced by the irrelevant information from the other dimension, suggesting that the mathematical values of C/Ms and the physical font size interfere with each other. These results corroborated that C/Ms play a role in magnitude cognition.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantity processing of Chinese numeral classifiers: Distance and congruity effects

2018

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“…As shown in Table 3, bǎ and bèi modulate the positioning of the NPs: bǎ indicates the direction of the action from the first NP to the second NP (that is, it renders the first NP as Actor and the second NP as the Undergoer), bèi reverses this pattern. In addition to including both fixed and flexible word orders, Mandarin also contains classifiers, the function of which is to group nouns into specific categories, enabling quantification (Gao & Malt, 2009;Her, Chen, & Yen, 2017;Zhang, 2007) for more information on Mandarin classifiers). Mandarin classifiers belong to five main categories: (1) group; (2) container; (3) standard measure; (4) temporary, and; (5) individual classifiers.…”

Section: Mandarin Chinese As a Suitable Language Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mini Pinyin: a modified miniature language for studying language learning and incremental sentence processing

Cross¹,

Zou-Williams²,

Wilkinson³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Artificial grammar learning (AGL) paradigms are used extensively in psycholinguistics and the cognitive neuroscience of language to characterise the (neuro-)cognitive basis of language learning. However, despite their effectiveness in characterising the (non-)human capacity to learn complex structured sequences, AGL paradigms lack ecological validity and typically do not account for cross-linguistic differences in sentence comprehension. Here, we describe a new modified miniature language paradigm – termed Mini Pinyin – that mimics natural language in that it is (a) based on an existing language (Mandarin Chinese) and (b) includes both structure and meaning. Mini Pinyin further contains a number of cross-linguistic elements, including varying word order arrangements and classifier-noun rules. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of Mini Pinyin, we had 76 (mean age = 24.9; 26 female) monolingual native English speakers complete an implicit learning phase followed by a sentence acceptability judgement task. Generalised linear mixed effects modelling revealed that participants were able to attain a moderate degree of accuracy on the judgement task, with performance scores ranging from 25% - 100% accuracy depending on the specific word order of the sentence. Further, sentences that were compatible with the canonical English word order were learned more efficiently than non-canonical word orders. We also controlled for inter-individual differences in statistical learning ability (SLA), demonstrating that SLA accounted for approximately 20% of the variance in performance on the sentence judgement task. We provide all stimulus and experimental task files and statistical analysis scripts as open source resources and discuss how future research can utilise this paradigm to study the neurobiological basis of language learning. As such, Mini Pinyin affords a convenient tool for improving the future of language learning research by going beyond the parameters of traditional AGL or existing miniature language paradigms.

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More than a piece of cake: Noun classifier processing in primary progressive aphasia

Tee,

Li‐Ying,

Chen

et al. 2024

Alzheimer's & Dementia

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INTRODUCTIONClinical understanding of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) has been primarily derived from Indo‐European languages. Generalizing certain linguistic findings across languages is unfitting due to contrasting linguistic structures. While PPA patients showed noun classes impairments, Chinese languages lack noun classes. Instead, Chinese languages are classifier language, and how PPA patients manipulate classifiers is unknown.METHODSWe included 74 native Chinese speakers (22 controls, 52 PPA). For classifier production task, participants were asked to produce the classifiers of high‐frequency items. In a classifier recognition task, participants were asked to choose the correct classifier.RESULTSBoth semantic variant (sv) PPA and logopenic variant (lv) PPA scored significantly lower in classifier production task. In classifier recognition task, lvPPA patients outperformed svPPA patients. The classifier production scores were correlated to cortical volume over left temporal and visual association cortices.DISCUSSIONThis study highlights noun classifiers as linguistic markers to discriminate PPA syndromes in Chinese speakers.Highlights Noun classifier processing varies in the different primary progressive aphasia (PPA) variants. Specifically, semantic variant PPA (svPPA) and logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA) patients showed significantly lower ability in producing specific classifiers. Compared to lvPPA, svPPA patients were less able to choose the accurate classifiers when presented with choices. In svPPA, classifier production score was positively correlated with gray matter volume over bilateral temporal and left visual association cortices in svPPA. Conversely, classifier production performance was correlated with volumetric changes over left ventral temporal and bilateral frontal regions in lvPPA. Comparable performance of mass and count classifier were noted in Chinese PPA patients, suggesting a common cognitive process between mass and count classifiers in Chinese languages.

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Neural correlates of quantity processing of Chinese numeral classifiers

Cited by 6 publications

References 17 publications

Quantity processing of Chinese numeral classifiers: Distance and congruity effects

Quantity processing of Chinese numeral classifiers: Distance and congruity effects

Mini Pinyin: a modified miniature language for studying language learning and incremental sentence processing

More than a piece of cake: Noun classifier processing in primary progressive aphasia

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