Researchers at New York University found neural evidence that grammar in bilingual speakers is implemented by a single, shared system rather than by separate language-specific systems. The study, published in JNeurosci and led by Esti Blanco-Elorrieta with first author Xuanyi Jessica Chen, recorded brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) with millisecond precision while Spanish–English bilinguals produced correct grammatical forms from singular prompts. For example, participants heard a singular word such as "boat" or "barco" and produced the plural.
The experiment included cognates (similar words across languages) and pseudowords like "paple" so the team could test grammatical processing for both known and novel items. Results showed the same brain patterns supporting grammar in English and Spanish, and those patterns also applied to pseudowords. The authors interpret these findings as evidence that grammatical computations are reusable across languages — a kind of universal template rather than separate rulebooks.
Blanco-Elorrieta said the results give clear neural insight into how people communicate and learn new languages. She previously worked with Chen on a calculator to measure multilingualism. The research received support from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health; source: NYU.
Difficult words
- neural — related to the nerves or the brain
- evidence — facts or information that show something true
- implement — to put a plan or system into actionimplemented
- magnetoencephalography — a brain imaging method measuring magnetic fieldsmagnetoencephalography (MEG)
- cognate — a word similar across two languagescognates
- pseudoword — a made-up word that looks realpseudowords
- reusable — able to be used again in other situations
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Discussion questions
- How might a single shared grammatical system affect how people learn a second language?
- What benefits or challenges could come from grammatical computations being reusable across languages?
- In what other research situations could using pseudowords be useful, and why?
