Neural underpinning of Japanese particle processing in non-native speakers

Abstract

Grammar acquisition by non-native learners (L2) is typically less successful and may produce fundamentally different grammatical systems than that by native speakers (L1). The neural representation of grammatical processing between L1 and L2 speakers remains controversial. We hypothesized that working memory is the primary source of L1/L2 differences, by considering working memory within the predictive coding account, which models grammatical processes as higher-level neuronal representations of cortical hierarchies, generating predictions (forward model) of lower-level representations. A functional MRI study was conducted with L1 Japanese speakers and highly proficient Japanese learners requiring oral production of grammatically correct Japanese particles. We assumed selecting proper particles requires forward model-dependent processes of working memory as their functions are highly context-dependent. As a control, participants read out a visually designated mora indicated by underlining. Particle selection by L1/L2 groups commonly activated the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus/insula, pre-supplementary motor area, left caudate, middle temporal gyrus, and right cerebellum, which constituted the core linguistic production system. In contrast, the left inferior frontal sulcus, known as the neural substrate of verbal working memory, showed more prominent activation in L2 than in L1. Thus, the working memory process causes L1/L2 differences even in highly proficient L2 learners.

The role of multimodal cues in second language comprehension

“…Studies on L2 processing have noted the impact of limited cognitive resources, such as attention and working memory, on the speed and availability of resources in non-native language comprehension (e.g. 29 , 30 ). Some theories have also proposed that L2 comprehenders encounter larger processing difficulties when mapping information across different representation domains (interface hypothesis 60 ), such as linguistic and non-linguistic domains.…”

“…In contrast to L1 comprehenders, L2 comprehenders who have learnt an L2 after their L1 are constrained by their more limited linguistic experience 27 . This makes language processing inherently more taxing for them 28 and this may reduce the cognitive resources (such as attention and working memory 29 , 30 ) available for processing non-linguistic communicative cues 16 , 31 , 32 . Furthermore, L2 comprehenders may be less familiar with how multimodal cues are used in their L2 (e.g.…”