Cross-linguistic similarity and individual learner differences in acquiring vocabulary in a third language

Principal investigator: dr hab. Agnieszka Otwinowska-Kasztelanic

In this project we aim to advance knowledge of how L3 vocabulary is acquired. To that end, we conduct a large-scale study on the learners of L3 Italian who speak Polish as their first language, and English as their second language. We investigate whether and how the knowledge of Polish and English shapes their acquisition of Italian words that are (or are not) similar to Polish and/or English.

In Study 1, using fine-grained psycholinguistic measures, we gather data on the learners’ proficiency in the known languages and their learning aptitude relevant to language (e.g. their working memory, general capacity for learning new facts, etc.). Next, we test their knowledge of a number of carefully chosen words that are either similar or different across those three languages. We also want to model how the knowledge of those words and structures depends on the cross-linguistic similarity, learners’ proficiency in the languages and their learning abilities.

In Study 2, we verify in a classroom experiment how new Italian words are learned in the real-world setting.

In Study 3, in the course of an experimental study run in a laboratory, we investigate the process of learning new Italian words by Polish speakers who know English, but have never learned Italian or other Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French, etc.). In sum, our research aims to provide some explanation of the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of vocabulary in L3. It may draw us closer to understanding the phenomenon of multilingualism.

 

Duration of the project: 2020- 2023

NCN OPUS grant awarded to  (National Science Centre, Poland, 2019/35/B/HS2/02236),  663 240 PLN

Project funded by