Once again I didn't pay attention and didn't send my reply to the entire
list. Sorry Jeff for sending it to you twice
I've been reading The Biology of Mind (M. Deric Bowands). In his chapter on
the plastic mind he has a sidebar that discribes a bilingual woman who
speaks English and Italian who got a job as translator for the UN. Prior to
the job both languages were localized in her left hemisphere. After being in
the job for a few months Italian was localized in her right hemisphere.
However, there isn't a reference to that case study.
Gary J. Klatsky
Department of Psychology [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Oswego State University (SUNY) http://www.oswego.edu/~klatsky
Oswego, NY 13126 Voice: (315) 341 3474
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On
Behalf Of Jeff Ricker
Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 12:40 PM
To: TIPS
Subject: Second Language and Brain Laterality
My Dear, Dear, Wonderful TIPSters,
The salutation was intended to disarm you with excessive politeness in
order to avoid any negative interactions: my, but TIPS has been a
battleground lately! Believe me, I will be very careful with how I word
this.
A student in one of my courses stated that, after her grandmother's
stroke, she lost the ability to speak her second language (English), but
was still able to speak her native language (French). This, I know, is
not uncommon. What interested me in this case was that my student stated
that the LEFT side of her grandmother's body was paralyzed
(right-hemisphere stroke) and that her grandmother was right-handed
(language functions associated predominantly with activity in the left
hemisphere in over 95% of right-handers).
My question:
Is there any evidence that a second language (in this case, learned
during adulthood) may be associated with activity in the right
hemisphere when the native language is associated with activity in the
left hemisphere?
I should add that, upon questioning, this student became uncertain about
her memory of the side of the body that was paralyzed in her
grandmother. But I thought I would ask the question anyway.
Jeff
P.S. I'll save for another post the promotion of my new book coming out
in the Spring or Summer of 2000, published by Pearson Publishing
(approximate price: $35), entitled (tentatively) _Introduction to the
Science of Psychology_. For ordering info, though, call me at the number
below (Visa and Mastercard accepted).
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"The truth is rare and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
"No one can accept the fundamental hypotheses of scientific psychology
and be in the least mystical."
Knight Dunlap
