Memory for information presented in a second language.

Abstract

Iranian bilinguals whose first language was Persian (Farsi) and second language English were compared for their ability to remember information from visually presented news bulletins. Four different experiments were conducted and subjects were asked to read two news bulletins, each in one of the two languages and were asked questions in the corresponding language. They were also tested for their comprehension of two similar bulletins, each in one of the two languages, by answering questions with the text still present. In the first experiment 32 adults were tested. The results showed that more information was remembered in the first (native) language in both immediate and delayed recall, even when the results were adjusted for differences in the comprehension test between the two languages. Subjects in the second test were 32 students studying in England. They were asked to read the same news bulletins, but questions were half in Farsi and half in English. The results of the second experiment (students) showed no difference due to the language of the bulletins or the questions. In the third experiment a total of 48 adults and students were tested in the same manner as the second group. Out of 48 subjects, 16 were students, 16 were adults (non-students) living in London and 16 adults (non-students) living in Tehran, Iran. This experiment showed that there were differences between the groups in the effect of test language on memory. The superiority of the Farsi test was greater in the Tehran group and absent in the student group and the London group. Adjusting the results for differences in comprehension did not change these conclusions. The fourth experiment tested 64 students in Tehran studying English for their first degree. Subjects were given unlimited time to read the texts as in previous experiments, or a restricted time. No effect of the time factor was found. Subjects were divided into more fluent and less fluent groups in English on the basis of the comprehension test. The fluent group showed superior memory in both languages. Results were also affected by question language, which interacted with text language. Results were superior when text and questions were in the same language. Overall in the four experiments recall of information in English text was inferior to recall of information in Farsi text mainly in groups which had not used English much. Better comprehension and greater experience in using the second language reduced this difference.