Resumen de Effects of motion type and modality on word learning in English

Samantha N. Emerson, Seyda Özçaliskan, Gwen A. Frishkoff

• Languages show typological variation in the expression of manner versus path of motion. However, studies examining the effects of these differences on cognitive representations of motion have led to inconclusive results. To elucidate this prior work, the present study examines word-learning outcomes for adult English speakers who were exposed to new motion words paired with animations that depict either different manners or different paths of motion. The results indicate better learning of words that represent path rather than manner of motion. The outcomes were similar for training with and without accompanying gestures. These findings support the centrality of path in the cognitive representation of motion events and may have important implications for language typology and understanding interactions between language and cognition.