Apples, Xiang-jiao, and Naranjas: Category Semantic Networks in Bilinguals

Abstract

Current research has not reached a consensus as to whether the semantic networks of bilingual speakers differ in structure from one language to another. Does knowledge of a second language change how words are connected and stored in the brain within a language and between languages? Are the semantic networks structured differently depending on language dominance or depending on differences between the languages themselves? Are there differences in network structure based on level of fluency in the second language? We approach these questions by looking at category semantic networks of nouns and adjectives, and assessing two different sets of bilinguals through the verbal fluency task: first, Puerto Rican Spanish-English bilinguals who possess high levels of fluency in both languages, and second, American Chinese-English bilinguals who are more fluent in English than Mandarin Chinese. The results of network analysis from the verbal fluency data suggests that there are no significant differences in the semantic network structure of the first and second language of bilinguals, regardless of level of proficiency, language environment, or similarity of the two languages.