First- and second-language phonological representations in the mental lexicon

Performance-based studies on the psychological nature of linguistic competence can conceal significant differences in the brain processes that underlie native versus nonnative knowledge of language. Here we report results from the brain activity of very proficient early bilinguals making a lexical decision task that illustrates this point. Two groups of SpanishCatalan early bilinguals (Spanish-dominant and Catalan-dominant) were asked to decide whether a given form was a Catalan word or not. The nonwords were based on real words, with one vowel changed. In the experimental stimuli, the vowel change involved a Catalan-specific contrast that previous research had shown to be difficult for Spanish natives to perceive. In the control stimuli, the vowel switch involved contrasts common to Spanish and Catalan. The results indicated that the groups of bilinguals did not differ in their behavioral and event-related brain potential measurements for the control stimuli; both groups made very few errors and showed a larger N400 component for control nonwords than for control words. However, significant differences were observed for the experimental stimuli across groups: Specifically, Spanish-dominant bilinguals showed great difficulty in rejecting experimental nonwords. Indeed, these participants not only showed very high error rates for these stimuli, but also did not show an error-related negativity effect in their erroneous nonword decisions. However, both groups of bilinguals showed a larger correctrelated negativity when making correct decisions about the experimental nonwords. The results suggest that although some aspects of a second language system may show a remarkable lack of plasticity (like the acquisition of some foreign contrasts), first-language representations seem to be more dynamic in their capacity of adapting and incorporating new information. &

The generation effect and word learning: a test of the effect of the language experience approach versus the text approach in the acquisition of new reading vocabulary

A class of twenty-two grade one children was tested to determine their reading levels using the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Achievement Test. Based on these results and teacher input the students were paired according to reading ability. The students ages ranged from six years four months to seven years four months at the commencement of the study. Eleven children were assigned to the language experience group and their partners became the text group. Each member of the language experience group generated a list of eight to be learned words. The treatment consisted of exposing the student to a given word three times per session for ten sessions, over a period of five days. The dependent variables consisted of word identification speed, word identification accuracy, and word recognition accuracy. Each member of the text group followed the same procedure using his/her partner's list of words. Upon completion of this training, the entire process was repeated with members of the text group from the first part becoming members of the language experience group and vice versa. The results suggest that generally speaking language experience words are identified faster than text words but that there is no difference in the rate at which these words are learned. Language experience words may be identified faster because the auditory-semantic information is more readily available in them than in text words. The rate of learning in both types of words, however, may be dictated by the orthography of the to be learned word.

DeCS terminology and the new rules on orthography of Portuguese language: guidelines for an update

PURPOSE: To indicate orthographic changes to be used as a basic reference for professionals, researchers, doctors, teachers, students and users, which are directly linked and performing activities in health services in general, aimed at implementing the correct orthography in recovery and production of their scientific studies. METHODS: For data collection, were shown some examples of terminology DeCS (Descriptors in Health Science) analyzed according to the current spelling and compared with the Orthographic Vocabulary of Portuguese Language (VOLP). RESULTS: It was select and listed examples of key words and/or terms related to Health Sciences, which was compared to the respective rules of the Orthographic Agreement of Portuguese Language, and divided into three items: graphical accentuation, the non use of dieresis and exceptions and, the use of hyphen. CONCLUSION: This study show some guidelines for the orthographic alterations of the terms used by scientific community, according the new orthographic rules, contributing for the efficiency in the description of the documents and consequently in their recovery.

Munson's system of practical phonography. The dictionary of practical phonography, giving the best phonographic forms for the words of the English language (sixty thousand), and for over five thousand proper names; also illustrating the principles of phrase-writing ...

Re-issue of the edition of 1875, with a new title-page.

A Greek and English lexicon to the New Testament : in which the words and phrases occurring in those sacred books are distinctly explained ; and the meanings assigned to each authorized by references to passages of Scripture, and frequently illustrated and confirmed by citations from the Old Testament and from the Greek writers ; to this work is prefixed, A Plain and easy Greek grammar /

Mode of access: Internet.

A. B. Johnson's A treatise on language, or, The relation which words bear to things.

Reprint. Originally published: A treatise on language, or, The relation which words bear to things. New York : Harper & Brothers, 1836.

An introductory New Testament Greek method : together with a manual, containing text and vocabulary of Gospel of John and lists of words, and the elements of New Testament Greek grammar /

Mode of access: Internet.

An American dictionary of the English language; exhibiting the origin, orthography, pronunciation, and definitions of words.

The Key has special t.-p.

An Explanatory and phonographic pronouncing dictionary of the English language : to which is added a vocabulary of Greek, Latin, Scripture, Christian, and geographical names, with their pronunciation : together with a collection of words and phrases from foreign languages, often met with in the works of English writers, with their signification /

Mode of access: Internet.

The London vocabulary : English and Latin: put into a new method, proper to acquaint the learner with things as well as pure Latin words. Adorned with twenty-six pictures. For the use of schools /

Mode of access: Internet.

A Greek and English lexicon to the New Testament: in which the words and phrases ... are distinctly explained, and the meanings assigned to each authorized by references to passages of Scripture, and frequently ... confirmed by citations from the Old Testament, and from the Greek writers.

Mode of access: Internet.

An analysis of the derivative words in the English language : or, A key to their precise analytic definitions, by prefixes and suffixes ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

An American dictionary of the English language : exhibiting the origin, orthography, pronunciation, and definitions of words /

Walker's Key has separate t.p.

A Greek and English dictionary : comprising all the words in the writings of the most popular Greek authors; with the difficult inflections in them and in the Septuagint and New Testament ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

A Greek and English dictionary, comprising all the words in the writings of the most popular Greek authors; with the difficult inflections in them and in the Septuagint and New Testament.

Mode of access: Internet.