A study of the University Pompeu Fabra of Barcelona, published in Acta Psychologica, analyses how and when valuation processes come into place when processing sentences in a second language.
Previous experiments showed that when native speakers of a language process a sentences, the semantic processing and the evaluation of their meaning are done at the same time. These speakers do not simply analyse the word within a context, but they evaluate the meaning of the sentence according to their own moral values. Researchers wanted to check what happens when processing the same information but in a second language, regarding moral values.
To find it out, the experimental design consisted in examining the cerebral activity (ERP, even-related potential) of two groups of individuals, one formed by native speakers of Spanish (24) and the other one formed by second language speakers of French or Spanish (24).
Both groups were asked to read some sentences (80) which included judgement values that are high in ethical and moral values, of the kind of: “Paedophilia must be forbidden/tolerated in the world”; “Homosexuals must be accepted/exterminated, in my opinion”, or “It is necessary/ridiculous the intervention of religion in politics, in my opinion”. While the participants were reading the sentences in their native language and in a second language, the approval or not of the meaning of the sentences was registered through the ERP registers.
The analysis of data showed identical valuations in both groups, with the exception that when native speakers did not agree with the sentences, that is to say, when the sentences were immoral for them, the ERP registers showed systematic and pragmatic responses. However, when the speakers used their second language, the responses were practical or pragmatic.
The authors of the study have interpreted the results concluding that “this suggest that the valuation of the moral content of a sentence is done more quickly in the mother tongue than in the second language.”
The study, informs the UPF in a note, has counted on the participation of researchers of the Basque Country.
Previous experiments showed that when native speakers of a language process a sentences, the semantic processing and the evaluation of their meaning are done at the same time. These speakers do not simply analyse the word within a context, but they evaluate the meaning of the sentence according to their own moral values. Researchers wanted to check what happens when processing the same information but in a second language, regarding moral values.
To find it out, the experimental design consisted in examining the cerebral activity (ERP, even-related potential) of two groups of individuals, one formed by native speakers of Spanish (24) and the other one formed by second language speakers of French or Spanish (24).
Both groups were asked to read some sentences (80) which included judgement values that are high in ethical and moral values, of the kind of: “Paedophilia must be forbidden/tolerated in the world”; “Homosexuals must be accepted/exterminated, in my opinion”, or “It is necessary/ridiculous the intervention of religion in politics, in my opinion”. While the participants were reading the sentences in their native language and in a second language, the approval or not of the meaning of the sentences was registered through the ERP registers.
The analysis of data showed identical valuations in both groups, with the exception that when native speakers did not agree with the sentences, that is to say, when the sentences were immoral for them, the ERP registers showed systematic and pragmatic responses. However, when the speakers used their second language, the responses were practical or pragmatic.
The authors of the study have interpreted the results concluding that “this suggest that the valuation of the moral content of a sentence is done more quickly in the mother tongue than in the second language.”
The study, informs the UPF in a note, has counted on the participation of researchers of the Basque Country.
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