Effects of spoken and written language on cognition: Evidence from Thai and other Asian languages

Winskel, Heather (2022) Effects of spoken and written language on cognition: Evidence from Thai and other Asian languages. In: Shei, Chris, and Li, Saihong, (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Asian Linguistics. Routledge, London, UK, pp. 395-407.

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Abstract

Languages are fascinating, complex systems that vary in terms of the linguistic devices and mechanisms that are available to encode our thoughts, ideas, perceptions, and experiences of the world around us. Moreover, the scripts used to encode these languages offer fascinating opportunities to contrast the effects of script-specific features on cognition. The aim of the current chapter is to examine some of the contrasting features of languages and scripts and to what extent they differentially affect cognition in observable and measurable ways. Advances in technology offer novel approaches to addressing these questions. Specific reference has been made to the characteristics of the Thai language and its script. The main characteristics of the Thai language and its script are reviewed prior to examining some research on the relationship between language and cognition. Initially, the focus is on expression of motion events in relation to (1) satellite-framed (e.g., English), verb-framed (e.g., French) and equipollently framed (e.g., Thai and Chinese) languages and in reference to (2) the presence or absence of durative aspectual marking. Subsequently, a focus on script-specific features is reviewed in relation to (3) linear-nonlinear spatial configuration of scripts and (4) the presence or absence of mirror letter pairs (e.g., b vs. d or p vs. q). We also make some suggestions for future research utilizing some of the distinctive features of the languages and writing systems of the Asian region.

Item ID: 78232
Item Type: Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN: 9781003090205
Copyright Information: Published Version: © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Chris Shei and Saihong Li; individual chapters, the contributors. The accepted version can be made OA after an embargo of 18 months. It is deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.
Date Deposited: 19 Apr 2023 23:41
FoR Codes: 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology > 520405 Psycholinguistics (incl. speech production and comprehension) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 100%
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