Semantic categorization in bilinguals: A typicality effect

Abstract

Semantic categorization is mainly to understanding of concepts using meaning and based on sets of characteristics properties. Better exemplars of category are identied quicker compared to poorer exemplars, is termed as \typicality eect". Clothing and non-clothing stimuli (strong and weak exemplars) were used for semantic categorization on 10 monolingual and 10 bilingual normal participants. NeuroScan Inc. data acquisition system gentask program was used to measure reaction time. All participants were instructed to press the appropriate option in response pad for all stimuli. Comparison of reaction time between monolingual and bilingual groups and comparison between rst language and second language in bilinguals was measured. Results showed that a typicality eect was observed in both monolinguals and bilinguals and no dierences were observed between clothing and non-clothing stimuli except in one category. Also results showed signicant dierence between languages in bilingual groups.