Thomas Scovel

A Critical Review of the Critical Period Research.

Two decades of international research in applied linguistics provides a large number and variety of topics from which to choose for this special anniversary edition, but certainly one of the most significant among these choices is the critical period hypothesis (CPH). Few topics in applied linguistics have continued to captivate the interests of researchers and practitioners so intensively and for such a long period of time as the CPH. Indeed, one could easily go back to reviewing three, not two decades of sustained research and continuous interest in this topic (Lenneberg 1967, Scovel 1969). If number and diversity of publications is indicative, the CPH has engendered even more interest and controversy now than in any previous decade. Why is this so?

Fast (100–175 ms) components elicited bilaterally by language production as measured by three-wavelength optical imaging

Optical imaging has been gradually utilized to investigate language functions in the brain. The majority of hemodynamic response (slow signal) measurements have been applied to receptive and productive language processing, while several event-related optical signal (EROS) measurements on neuronal response (fast signal) have focused on receptive language processing. Therefore, an investigation of language production based on fast signal measurement is yet to be realized. Using a continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopic (CW-NIRS) method with three long wavelengths in close ranges (780, 805, and 830 nm), which are suitable for the detection of fast optical signals, the current work investigated whether absorbance-based EROS components during overt language production might be elicited bilaterally in each wavelength with a 25 ms sampling time. Healthy adult subjects read aloud Japanese noun phrases (NP) presented on a computer screen. Two conditions (short/long-vowel duration) included either initial [s]- or [k]-phoneme types in the first words of the NP. The cognitive subtraction method achieved by deducting short-duration from long-duration conditions showed that in both phoneme types, reliable fast optical components with a peak latency of about 100-175 ms post initial-consonant onset were bilaterally elicited by long vowels. This result suggests that the present CW-NIRS methodology can clearly detect such early optical signals with good temporal resolution and with a good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) obtained from a small number of stimuli. The fact that optical absorbance values at all three wavelengths had the same positive deflections during the initial-syllable production demonstrates that the elicitation of fast optical components may directly represent neuronal activity.

The role of culture in second language pedagogy

Abstract Just as the influence of intralingual overgeneralization and linguistic universals is now acknowledged in contemporary second language acquisition research, this article attempts to argue for the importance of overgeneralization and universals in helping to explain the impact of culture on second language learning. Research from applied linguistics, as well as examples of the various effects of culture on the language acquisition process, are presented from the following four perspectives: people, language, cognition, and emotions.

Neuromagnetic mismatch field (MMF) dependence on the auditory temporal integration window and the existence of categorical boundaries: Comparisons between dissyllabic words and their equivalent tones

Previous duration-related auditory mismatch response studies have tested vowels, words, and tones. Recently, the elicitation of strong neuromagnetic mismatch field (MMF) components in response to large (>32%) vowel-duration decrements was clearly observed within dissyllabic words. To date, however, the issues of whether this MMF duration-decrement effect also extends to duration increments, and to what degree these duration decrements and increments are attributed to their corresponding non-speech acoustic properties remainto be resolved. Accordingly, this magnetoencephalographic (MEG) study investigated whether prominent MMF components would be evoked by both duration decrements and increments for dissyllabic word stimuli as well as frequency-band matched tones in order to corroborate the relation between the MMF elicitation and the directions of duration changes in speech and non-speech. Further, the peak latency effectsdepending on stimulus types (words vs. tones) were examined. MEG responses were recorded with a whole-head 148-channel magnetometer, while subjects passively listened to the stimuli presented within an odd-ball paradigm for both shortened duration (180-->100%) and lengthened duration (100-->180%). Prominent MMF components were observed in the shortened and lengthened paradigms for the word stimuli, but only in the shortened paradigm for tones. The MMF peak latency results showed that the words ledtoearlier peak latencies than the tones. These findings suggest that duration lengthening as well as shortening in words produces a salient acoustic MMF response when the divergent point between the long and short durations fallswithin the temporal window ofauditory integration post sound onset (<200 ms), and that theearlier latency of the dissyllabic word stimuli over tones is due to a prominent syllable structure in words which is used to generate temporal categorical boundaries.

English in China.

由于人们越来越认识到英语教学在全球的影响以及世界英语(World Englishes)的蔓延,现在读到一本非常适时的有关地球上人口最多的国家的英语教学的论文集,是令人高兴的。在过去十年里,用英语出版了许多有关中国英语教学的书刊,其中也包括一些综合性的有较高研究水平的博士论文。但是 Dzau 的论文集是由英语作为二语教学的专业人员为同行用英语写的有关这个