How Do L2 Learners' Individual Differences In Cognitive Style, Specifically In Terms Of Holistic Vs. Analytic Processing, Influence Their Susceptibility To Cross-linguistic Influence And The Subsequent Reorganization Of Their Mental Lexicon During The Acquisition Of A Morphologically Rich Language, Such As Russian Or Arabic?

by ADMIN 327 views

In the context of second language (L2) acquisition, particularly for morphologically rich languages like Russian or Arabic, the cognitive styles of holistic and analytic processing significantly influence how learners are affected by cross-linguistic influence and how their mental lexicon evolves. Here's a structured summary of the thought process and conclusions:

  1. Cognitive Styles Defined:

    • Holistic Processing: Focuses on the overall meaning and context, often considering language as a whole.
    • Analytic Processing: Involves breaking down language into components, such as grammar and individual words.

  2. Cross-Linguistic Influence (CLI):

    • Learners with a holistic style may be more susceptible to CLI as they rely on the overall structures of their native language, potentially leading to interference.
    • Analytic learners, by focusing on the new language's structures, may reduce negative transfer and CLI.

  3. Mental Lexicon Reorganization:

    • Holistic Learners: Tend to store words in an interconnected way, relying on context and memorization. This can lead to slower grasp of complex morphology and more reliance on native language structures.
    • Analytic Learners: Likely to organize their lexicon systematically, understanding morphology (e.g., roots, affixes) which aids in generating and understanding new words.

  4. Implications for Learning Morphologically Rich Languages:

    • Analytic learners may find it easier to handle complex morphology, leading to efficient lexicon reorganization and better task performance in grammar-focused areas.
    • Holistic learners might benefit from contextual exposure but may struggle with detailed morphology, leading to potential errors and slower acquisition.

  5. Conclusion:

    • Analytic learners are less susceptible to CLI and may reorganize their lexicon more effectively, making them advantageous for learning morphologically rich languages.
    • Holistic learners, while adept at overall meaning, may face challenges with detailed structures, leading to more CLI and slower acquisition.

This analysis suggests that while both cognitive styles have their strengths, analytic processing may offer specific advantages in the context of acquiring morphologically complex L2 languages.