Gesture influences the processing of figurative language in non-native speakers: ERP evidence.

Agustín Ibáñez, Facundo Manes, Josefina Escobar, Natalia Trujillo, Paola Andreucci, Esteban Hurtado
Author Information
  1. Agustín Ibáñez: Neuroscience Laboratory, University Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile. aibanez@neurologiaconitiva.org

Abstract

Gestures should play a role in second language comprehension, given their importance in conveying contextual information. In this study, the N400 and the LPC were evaluated in a task involving the observation of videos showing utterances accompanied by gestures. Students studying advanced (G-High participants) and basic German (G-Low participants) as a second language were investigated. The utterance-gesture congruence and metaphoric meaning of content were manipulated during the task. As in previous ERP reports with native speakers, metaphorical expressions were sensitive to gestures. In G-Low participants, no modulation in the 300-500 ms window was observed, and only a modest effect was observed for the 500-700 ms window. More subtle differences of verbal expression were not processed in this group. Consistent with previous reports of the same paradigm with native speakers, the N400 from G-High group discriminated both congruent and incongruent gestures as well as literal and metaphorical sentences. Our results suggest that semantic processing is robust in the learning of a second language, although the amplitude modulation and latency of ERPs might depend on the speaker's proficiency level.

MeSH Term

Comprehension
Evoked Potentials
Female
Gestures
Humans
Male
Metaphor
Semantics
Speech
Speech Perception
Young Adult

Word Cloud

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