Semantic Differential Profiles as Related to Monolingual-Bilingual Types

Abstract

Semantic differential profiles of words in English and Navaho were obtained for three groups of Navaho eighth grade pupils: English-speaking monolinguals who knew the Navaho words in translation, co-ordinate bilinguals, and compound bilinguals. Two hypotheses were formulated: (1) Semantic distances between word equivalents will be greatest for the monolinguals, next for the co-ordinate bilinguals, and least for the compound bilinguals. (2) Polarity will be in the direction of the monolinguals' and co-ordinate bilinguals' native languages, but will not be evident, or there will be polarity reversals, for compound bilinguals. The second hypothesis was supported ; the first was not. Possible reasons for this lack of support are: (1) co-ordinate bilinguals may become " compound " bilinguals in time ; (2) the three factors employed may not adequately define semantic space for the Navahos and (3) perhaps the concepts rated were too few in number or inappropriate to detect sufficient variance.