Multicultural Neurolinguistics: A Neuroscientific Perceptive of Cross-Cultural Differences in Translation

Abstract

Psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics have been seldom used in investigating the cultural component of language. In this study, we suggest a scientific methodology to study neurocognitive mechanisms induced by the interaction between multi-linguistics and cross-culture differences, especially during translation between a source language (SL) and a target language (TL). Using a contest of tonal languages (Chinese) and atonal language (English) multilingual exchange, we opine that translation theories as numerous and efficacious as they are, lack the competence to bring absolute clarity into the complex cross-cultural dimension of languages when it comes to accuracy in translation. Echoing this, this study attempts to apply neuroscience in blending cross-cultural diversity and neurolinguistics as a one-in-all translation approach to “multicultural neurolinguistics” between an SL and a given TL. The linguistic examination of this study proves that “multicultural neurolinguistics” will provide a unique framework for all translation barriers, and establish a cross-cultural and multilingual network depending on the particular circumstance. This research contributes to the linguistic literature by bringing a “multicultural neurolinguistics” resolution to the cultural diversity question in translation.

Desarrollo y validación de una tarea experimental de Memoria Episódica verbal en español

“…Dado la relevancia de las adaptaciones psicolingüísticas y culturales para los hispanohablantes, una población cada vez más numerosa a nivel global, será pertinente disponer de una tarea en el propio idioma y cultura donde posteriormente se administrará (20,21) . Por tal razón, el presente estudio fue diseñado con el propósito de elaborar y obtener evidencia de validez para una tarea experimental de ME verbal en español, a fin de proporcionar una herramienta útil, alineada con la perspectiva del AA, en la búsqueda de medidas que permitan compensar el deterioro de la ME producto del envejecimiento cognitivo.…”

Development and validation of an experimental verbal Episodic Memory task in Spanish

“…Given the relevance of psycholinguistic and cultural adaptations for Spanish speakers, increasingly numerous populations globally, it will be pertinent to have a task in the language and culture where it will subsequently be administered (20,21) . For this reason, this study was designed to develop and obtain evidence of validity for an experimental task of verbal EM in Spanish to provide a useful tool, aligned with the OA perspective, in the search for measures that allow compensating the deterioration of the EM product of cognitive aging.…”