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Taboo words and reprimands elicit greater autonomic reactivity in a first language than in a second language

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2003

CATHERINE L. HARRIS ,
AYŞE AYÇIÇEĞI  and
JEAN BERKO GLEASON
CATHERINE L. HARRIS
Affiliation:
Boston University
AYŞE AYÇIÇEĞI
Affiliation:
Istanbul University
JEAN BERKO GLEASON
Affiliation:
Boston University
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Extract

Second language speakers commonly acknowledge that taboo terms can be uttered with greater ease in their second language (L2) than in their first language (L1). To investigate this phenomenon psychophysiologically, 32 Turkish–English bilinguals rated a variety of stimuli for pleasantness in Turkish (L1) and English (L2) while skin conductance was monitored via fingertip electrodes. Participants demonstrated greater autonomic arousal to taboo words and childhood reprimands (“Shame on you!”) in their L1 compared to their L2. This finding provides quantifiable support for the subjective experiences of L2 speakers.

Type
Research Article
Information
Applied Psycholinguistics , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , December 2003 , pp. 561 - 579
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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