The impact of language switching on statistical word learning

It is currently not clear whether language switching hurts, facilitates, or does not impact word learning. In the current experiment, we will focus on the effect of language switching on cross-situational word learning. To do so, we will compare the learning of 2:1 mappings (two words mapping onto the same object, similar to translations or synonyms) created by English-like and German-like non-words in pure and mixed learning conditions. In the mixed learning condition, one of the two words of the 2:1 mapping will always be English-like and one will always be German-like (consistent with translations). Instead, in the pure learning condition, 2:1 mappings will always be within the same language (consistent with synonyms). We expect participants to be better at learning in the mixed than in the pure learning condition (i.e., mixing benefits). Additionally, we will analyze the effect of language switching and language repetition in the mixed learning condition. We expect performance to be better in repetition than switch trials (i.e., switch costs).