Bilingual language experience and code-switching acceptability judgments: A constructive replication of Stadthagen-González et al. (2019)
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-7113-6699
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
Bilingualism and multilingualism
Location
MBSC Council Room 306
Start Date
17-10-2024 4:00 PM
End Date
17-10-2024 4:30 PM
Abstract
In the study of code-switching, there has been considerable focus on the notion that language switching patterns are not random, but rather that bilinguals judge some switches to be acceptable and others to be ill-formed (Bullock & Toribio, 2009, among many). However, relatively little research has examined the potential drivers of variability in code-switching acceptability judgements, and the role of bilinguals’ varied language experiences (e.g., language dominance and code-switching experience) has remained largely unexplored. Within bilingual language experience, two variables have garnered significant attention: language-dominance and code-switching experience (see de Bruin, 2019). The current study presents a constructive replication of prior research and examines the potential modulating role of language experience.
Seventy-one Spanish–English bilinguals participated in a constructive replication of Stadthagen-González et al. (2019). This study examines comparative judgments of noun–adjective order of code-switched stimuli through a two-alternative forced choice task, in which participants chose the ‘more natural’ of two visually-presented code-switched stimuli. English and Spanish differ with respect to noun–adjective order, with English employing the adjective–noun ordering and Spanish preferring the noun–adjective order. Stimuli included four conditions: (a) Spanish adjective + English noun (Condition A), (b) English noun + Spanish adjective (Condition B), (c) Spanish noun + English adjective (Condition C), (d) English adjective + Spanish noun (Condition D). Language dominance was assessed using the Bilingual Language Profile (Birdsong et al., 2012). Code-switching experience was assessed using the Bilingual Code-Switching Profile (Olson, 2022). Analysis focused on 5112 comparative judgements (6 pairings ´ 12 base stimuli ´ 71 participants). Relative rankings of the different bilingual constructions, using Thurstone’s law of comparative judgments, allowed for comparison with the previous study. The effect of language dominance and code-switching experience were assessed using binomial logistic regressions.
The results demonstrate strong replicability of the original findings of Stadthagen-González et al. (2019). Crucially, results show a significant impact of language dominance and code-switching experience on acceptability judgements. This study responds directly to an ongoing call for replication studies in the field of bilingualism and is among the first to consider the role of prior language experiences on acceptability judgments.
Bilingual language experience and code-switching acceptability judgments: A constructive replication of Stadthagen-González et al. (2019)
MBSC Council Room 306
In the study of code-switching, there has been considerable focus on the notion that language switching patterns are not random, but rather that bilinguals judge some switches to be acceptable and others to be ill-formed (Bullock & Toribio, 2009, among many). However, relatively little research has examined the potential drivers of variability in code-switching acceptability judgements, and the role of bilinguals’ varied language experiences (e.g., language dominance and code-switching experience) has remained largely unexplored. Within bilingual language experience, two variables have garnered significant attention: language-dominance and code-switching experience (see de Bruin, 2019). The current study presents a constructive replication of prior research and examines the potential modulating role of language experience.
Seventy-one Spanish–English bilinguals participated in a constructive replication of Stadthagen-González et al. (2019). This study examines comparative judgments of noun–adjective order of code-switched stimuli through a two-alternative forced choice task, in which participants chose the ‘more natural’ of two visually-presented code-switched stimuli. English and Spanish differ with respect to noun–adjective order, with English employing the adjective–noun ordering and Spanish preferring the noun–adjective order. Stimuli included four conditions: (a) Spanish adjective + English noun (Condition A), (b) English noun + Spanish adjective (Condition B), (c) Spanish noun + English adjective (Condition C), (d) English adjective + Spanish noun (Condition D). Language dominance was assessed using the Bilingual Language Profile (Birdsong et al., 2012). Code-switching experience was assessed using the Bilingual Code-Switching Profile (Olson, 2022). Analysis focused on 5112 comparative judgements (6 pairings ´ 12 base stimuli ´ 71 participants). Relative rankings of the different bilingual constructions, using Thurstone’s law of comparative judgments, allowed for comparison with the previous study. The effect of language dominance and code-switching experience were assessed using binomial logistic regressions.
The results demonstrate strong replicability of the original findings of Stadthagen-González et al. (2019). Crucially, results show a significant impact of language dominance and code-switching experience on acceptability judgements. This study responds directly to an ongoing call for replication studies in the field of bilingualism and is among the first to consider the role of prior language experiences on acceptability judgments.