This study aims to explore whether the processing of two levels of English derivations, namely level 1 and level 2, differs in the brains of highly proficient Korean learners of English as a second language and whether it aligns with the patterns observed in native English speakers. Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), the brain activations of fifteen proficient Korean learners of English were recorded while they performed a phonological similarity judgment task. The task involved discriminating between word pairs with level 1 (e.g., -ity) and level 2 (e.g., -ness) derivational affixes. The results demonstrated that when processing level 2 words, the participants activated the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG or Broca’s area) and posterior superior temporal gyrus (STG), consistent with rule-based procedural memory and lexical-semantic processing, respectively. In contrast, the left posterior STG was activated when processing level 1 words, indicative of declarative memory involvement. These findings provide direct support for Ullman’s Declarative/Procedural model, suggesting that highly proficient L2 learners process derivations similarly to native speakers.
1. Introduction
2. Previous Studies
3. Methodology
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion
References