Lexical access in the multilingualism of minority language speakers
The influence of Pomeranian in the reading of cognates in English
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-4301.2025.1.48009Keywords:
Pomeranian, English, cognates, lexical access, readingAbstract
This study investigated the effect of knowledge of the Pomeranian language on lexical access in English, with a focus on cognate reading. The aim was to determine whether a minority language, such as Pomeranian, can influence the processing of written English words, a hegemonic language. Participants completed a linguistic background questionnaire and an English lexical decision task that included English–Pomeranian cognates, non-cognates, and pseudowords. The task was administered before and after explicit instruction activities on cognates. Participants were early bilinguals (Pomeranian–Portuguese), adults aged 20 to 50, with at least a high school education, self-assessed A2-level proficiency in English, and regular use of the language. Comparison between conditions (cognates vs. non-cognates) revealed a facilitation effect of Pomeranian knowledge on the reading of English words, evidenced by response times in the first administration and by accuracy in the second administration of the lexical decision task. The results reinforce existing evidence in the literature, indicating that a cognate facilitation effect may occur. This study contributes to the field by demonstrating that even a minority language with an oral tradition can facilitate lexical processing during reading.
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