A1 Journal article (refereed)
Hemispheric dominance of metaphor processing for Chinese-English bilinguals : DVF and ERPs evidence (2022)

Zhu, X., Chen, H., Otieno, S. C., Cong, F., & Leppänen, P. H. (2022). Hemispheric dominance of metaphor processing for Chinese-English bilinguals : DVF and ERPs evidence. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 63, Article 101081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2022.101081

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Zhu, Xichu; Chen, Hongjun; Otieno, Susannah C.S.A.; Cong, Fengyu; Leppänen, Paavo H.T.

Journal or series: Journal of Neurolinguistics

ISSN: 0911-6044

eISSN: 1873-8052

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 63

Article number: 101081

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2022.101081

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83807

Abstract

This study investigated whether metaphors are predominantly processed in the right or left hemisphere when using Chinese and English metaphors in Chinese bilingual speakers. The role of familiarity in processing of metaphorical and literal expressions in both the first and second language was studied with brain-event-related potentials using a divided-visual-field paradigm. The participants were asked to perform plausibility judgments for Chinese (L1) and English (L2) familiar and unfamiliar metaphorical and literal sentences. The results obtained using parameter-free cluster permutation statistics suggest a different pattern of brain responses for metaphor processing in L1 and L2, and that both metaphoricity and familiarity have an effect on the brain response pattern of both Chinese and English metaphor processing. However, the brain responses were distributed bilaterally across hemispheres, suggesting no clear evidence for lateralization of processing of metaphorical meanings. This is inconsistent with the Graded Salience Hypothesis and Fine-Coarse Semantic Coding Theory, which posited a right hemisphere advantage of non-salient and coarse semantic processing.

Keywords: bilingualism; metaphors; Chinese language; English language; neurolinguistics; EEG

Free keywords: metaphor processing; Chinese-English bilingual; hemispheric dominance; divided-visual-field; event-related potential; familiarity

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2