Monica Xiao Wei

Thesis Title: The Role of Motor Learning in Second Language Acquisition

When learning to speak, we acquire both the linguistic code and the speech motor program needed to produce coordinated muscle movements (McNeil et al., 1997; Spencer & Rogers, 2005). While this process feels effortless for infants, second-language (L2) learning is far more demanding, often leading learners to give up before reaching fluency (Malovrh & Benati, 2020).

L2 learning enhances cultural understanding, literacy, and employability (Fox et al., 2019) while benefiting brain health, delaying dementia (Craik et al., 2010), and aiding stroke recovery (Lahiri et al., 2020). Identifying barriers to effective learning could improve L2 acquisition outcomes. This PhD investigates the role of motor learning in adult L2 acquisition, asking: (1) how L2 outcomes are shaped by prior motor patterns from the first language (L1), (2) whether linguistic transfer from L1 plays a greater role, and (3) whether these effects differ for L2 comprehension and production.

Sign language (SL) offers a unique way to separate motor learning from linguistic transfer. In spoken L2 studies, both factors stem from the same L1 system, making it difficult to determine their independent effects. However, SLs use distinct motor systems—hands/arms rather than tongue/lips—so L1 speakers lack prior motor influences when learning signs, unlike L1 signers. By comparing how L1 English speakers and L1 British Sign Language (BSL) signers acquire Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL) under different conditions, this research disentangles the contributions of motor learning and linguistic transfer.

Biography:

Monica is an ESRC-funded Psychology PhD student at the University of Birmingham. Her current research project focuses on the role of motor learning in sign language L2 acquisition. Previously she participated in research on lexical co-activation in bimodal bilinguals and language ability tests. She is an (unofficially) recognised Hong Kong Sign Language interpreter, and she is really trying her best to learn British Sign Language at the moment.

Publications:

Sze, F., Wei, M. X., & Lam, D. (2020). Development of the Hong Kong Sign Language Sentence Repetition Test. The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 25(3), 298–317. https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enaa001 Wei, M. X., Sze, F. Y., & Wong, A. Y. L. (2018).

Gender variation in signs of sexual behaviour in Hong Kong Sign Language. Asia-Pacific Language Variation, 4(1), 1–35. doi: 10.1075/aplv.17002.wei Sze, F. Y. B., Wei, M. X., & Wong, A. Y. L. (2017).

Taboos and euphemisms in sexrelated signs in Asian sign languages. Linguistics, 55(1). doi: 10.1515/ling-2016- 0034

University of Birmingham

Psychology

2023 Cohort

Email:

LinkedIn

Supervisory Team:

Robin Thompson

Sang-Hoon Yeo

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