Statistical learning

Sequence processing

Prediction

Language

Statistical learning is one of the mechanisms that plays a key role in language learning. Statistical learning automatically and implicitly extracts statistical regularities found in language, such as word frequency or the probability of a specific word appearing before or after another. However, each language has its own specific features (such as word order) which can have an impact on the statistical regularities it contains, making them more or less relevant. The effect of the first language and its statistical regularities on the development of statistical learning has been little studied, and never in French. The first objective of this project is to describe the statistical regularities present in French via a corpus study and then to study their impact on statistical learning using a cross-language study. In addition, the effect of statistical regularities on language processing and on the anticipation of upcoming words has yet to be determined. The second aim of the project is therefore to study the effective use of statistical regularities in the processing of written language (with a specific focus on dyslexia) and in the processing and anticipation of spoken language. This project will provide a better understanding of the reciprocal links between language and statistical learning, as well as determining which statistical regularities are likely to cause difficulties for dyslexic children. In this way, the results of this project could provide information as to what type of information should be made explicit when dyslexic children are learning to read.

Axis 1 - Statistical regularities in language and their impact on statistical learning

Objective 1: corpus study to determine the statistical profile of French

Objective 2: Interlanguage study, statistical learning in French and Hungarian.

Axis 2 - Statistical regularities and their impact on the processing of written and spoken language and on prediction

Objective 3 : statistical regularities in dyslexia

Objective 4 : the use of statistical regularities in prediction and oral language processing