From “No, she does” to “Yes, she does”: Negation processing in negative yes–no questions by Mandarin speakers of English

Abstract In response to negative yes–no questions (e.g., Doesn’t she like cats? ), typical English answers ( Yes, does / No, doesn’t ) peculiarly vary from those in Mandarin ). What are the processing consequences of these markedly different conventionalized linguistic responses achieve same communicative goals? And if and speakers process differently, what extent change Mandarin–English sequential bilinguals? Two experiments addressed questions. bilinguals, monolinguals N = 40/group) were tested a production experiment (Expt. 1). The task was formulate positive/negative participants also comprehension 2), which they had answer with time-measured yes no button presses. both Expt. 1 2, showed language-specific Also, experiments, reaction-time advantage over negation conditions. Bilingual’s performance in-between that L1 L2 baseline. These findings suggestive They signal ways bilinguals susceptible restructuring driven by second language.