Lexical selection in bimodal bilinguals: ERP evidence from picture-word interference

The picture word interference (PWI) paradigm and ERPs were used to investigate whether lexical selection in deaf and hearing ASL-English bilinguals occurs via lexical competition or whether the response exclusion hypothesis (REH) for PWI effects is supported. The REH predicts that semantic interference should not occur for bimodal bilinguals because sign and word responses do not compete within an output buffer. Bimodal bilinguals named pictures in ASL, preceded by either a translation equivalent, semantically-related, or unrelated English written word. In both the translation and semantically-related conditions bimodal bilinguals showed facilitation effects: reduced RTs and N400 amplitudes for related compared to unrelated prime conditions. We also observed an unexpected focal left anterior positivity that was stronger in the translation condition, which we speculate may be due to articulatory priming. Overall, the results support the REH and models of bilingual language production that assume lexical selection occurs without competition between languages.

Automated summary

The study used the picture word interference paradigm and ERPs to explore whether lexical selection in deaf and hearing ASL-English bilinguals involves lexical competition or supports the response exclusion hypothesis. Results indicated that bimodal bilinguals do not experience semantic interference and show facilitation effects in translation and semantically-related conditions. Additionally, an unexpected left anterior positivity was observed in the translation condition, possibly due to articulatory priming.