The Dynamics of Multilingual Processing

This project (funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research 2003-2007) studies the processing of second and third languages (L2+) during first contact, during acquisition, and at the level of high proficiency or functional bilingualism. We ask: How does the representation of a new language develop and then co-exist with the representations of other languages in the mind and brain of an individual? What role does the language input play in shaping the representations of a new language? How does processing of grammar and morphology become fast and efficient in fluent bilinguals? How do co-existing language systems influence each other? We explore these questions using different methodologies, ranging from reaction time experiments to gesture analysis. Neuroimaging work on L2+ processing (fMRI, ERP) is conducted at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour: Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging.

Subprojects

The various subprojects can be divided into three groups:

• The effects of exposure to an unknown L2

• The transition towards efficient processing of L2

• The interaction of L1 and L2 processes in the proficient speaker