Morphology Priming of Embodied Versus Dis-embodied Language: A Preliminary Investigation of Behavioral and fNIRS Measures

• In Event: Language-Embodied Integrative Facilitation Effect in Bilingualism: Behavioral, Developmental, and Neurophysiological Studies

Abstract

1. Objectives or Purposes
To verify results from previous studies on whether in Chinese or English, embodied words have more morphological priming effects in Superior temporal gyrus (STG) region of brain; or have a greater morphological priming effect in the sensory and kinesthetic areas of the prefrontal cortex than in the visual and auditory cortexes.

2. Perspectives or Theoretical Framework
From an embodied cognition perspective, representations of word meaning are, at least in part, grounded in sensorimotor and other bodily systems (Meteyard et al., 2012).

3. Methods, Techniques, or Modes of Inquiry
Both phonological awareness and morphological awareness priming tasks will be designed, with behavioral and fNIRS measures.

4. Data sources, Evidence, Objects, or Materials
A pilot study was conducted between 60 embodied and 60 dis-embodied Chinese words. The participants included a total of 10 (6 girls, 4 boys; mean age= 10.8 years; SD = 1.5; range = 10 – 12 years; average grade = 5rd grade) bilingual children from a school from Eastern China. Right-handed children with no metal implants were invited to participant in the neuroimaging part of the study. Among the 10 participants, 8 children (4 girls and 4 boys) agreed to undergo fNIRS scanning.

5. Results and/or Conclusions or Warrants for Arguments/Point of View
Embodied words indeed have more morphological priming effects in Superior temporal gyrus (STG) region of brain; have a greater morphological priming effect in the sensory and kinesthetic areas of the prefrontal cortex than in the visual and auditory cortexes.

6. Scientific or Scholarly Significance of the Study
Based on the brain bases of morphological awareness in Chinese monolingual and Chinese-English bilingual children, the morphology priming of embodied vs. dis-embodied Chinese words is studied and the priming of embodied vs. dis-embodied English words will be further studied to reveal the significant embodied facilitation on morphological priming among Chinese monolingual and Chinese English bilinguals. This interesting morphological priming has embodied effect suggest that the origin of word representation and learning is founded by perception and action integration framework.

Authors

• Ling HE

• Sophia Zhaoyu Han

• Qun Guan, Beijing Language and Culture University