The neurocognitive mechanisms of semantic gender processing in L1 and L2 personal nouns by Chinese-English bilinguals

Semantic gender agreement processing can be a problem for Chinese-English bilinguals, but it is still unclear whether the problem originates from a processing deficiency in the antecedent. To clarify this issue, the present study conducted two ERP experiments in which unbalanced Chinese-English bilinguals read L1 and L2 sentences describing pictures just presented. ERP responses to the personal nouns that were either congruent or incongruent in gender with the picture referents were recorded and analysed. In the L1, a gender incongruity effect (P600) was observed. In the L2, the more proficient group demonstrated the same gender incongruity effect as in the L1, while the less proficient group manifested a pattern of N400 plus late P600 (700-900ms). These findings indicate that Chinese-English bilinguals were able to access in time semantic gender information in both L1 and L2 personal nouns, but the exact mechanisms differed qualitatively between learners differing in L2 proficiency.