A study about neural change in second language learning

• Project/Area Number: 16K02929
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Higashiosaka Junior College (2018-2019); Tokyo University of Social Welfare (2016-2017)
• Principal Investigator: Ishinabe Hiroshi 東大阪大学短期大学部, その他部局等, 教授 (90424051)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Jeong Hyeonjeong 東北大学, 国際文化研究科, 准教授 (60549054)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 外国語教育 / 第2言語習得 / ダ2言語習得 / 第二言語習得 / 第二言語習得理論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cross-linguistic influence is one factor that facilitates or hinders L2 grammar acquisition. We investigate cross-linguistic influence on the progress of L2 learning using artificial languages with two groups of native Japanese speakers. We created two artificial languages that had different syntactic features but shared the same vocabulary system. We clarified that the left IFG played the crucial role in the cross-linguistic influence. This finding suggested that the cross-linguistic influence due to the grammatical distance between L1 and L2 was explained by the recruitment of brain activation at the left IFG. In addition, it suggested that the cross-linguistic influence occurred proactively, regardless of L2 proficiency, and relied on the opercular part of the left IFG.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果は，従来のテストに基づくL2能力の発達過程の結果からは知りえない新たな視点を示唆していると考えられる。従来の行動データとは異なり言語類似性の効果は習得の段階に関わらず現れることが示唆された。学習者のこのような認知特性の理解がさらに進めば，伝統的に続く学習順序とは異なる文法項目導入の仕方が可能になるかもしれない。

Research Products

• [Presentation] Neural signature of Cross-Linguistic Influence in L2 Learning (2018)
  • Author(s): Hiroshi Ishinabe, Hyeonjeong Jeong, Shigeyuki Ikeda, Takayuki Nozawa, Kohei Sakaki, Motoaki Sugiura, Ryuta Kawashima
  • Organizer: The Society for the Neurobiology of Language
• [Presentation] 言語的類似度が外国語学習メカニズムに与える影響: fMRI を用いた研究 (2018)
  • Author(s): 石鍋浩, Hyeonjeong Jeong, 池田純起, 野澤孝之, 榊浩平, 杉浦元亮, 川島隆太
  • Organizer: 東北大学 国際文化研究科ー附属言語脳認知総合科学研究センター主催、第1回ワークショップ「ことばの発達の神経科学」
• [Presentation] 母語と外国語の言語的類似度が外国語学習中の脳活動に与える影響 (2017)
  • Author(s): 石鍋浩，Hyeonjeong Jeong, 池田純起, 野澤孝之, 榊浩平, 杉浦元亮, 川島隆太
  • Organizer: 第1回ヒト脳イメージング研究会
• [Presentation] 文法構造の違いが第2言語学習メカニズムに与える影響：人工言語を用いたfMRI研究 (2017)
  • Author(s): 石鍋浩
  • Organizer: 心理言語学方法論再考セミナー～視線、脳波、MRIのより良い活用法の模索～