Probing the naturalness bias in learning stress: A cross-linguistic study

In the present paper we report on a cross-linguistic artificial grammar learning study, whose objective was twofold. On the methodological side, its goal was to address the question as to whether the native language of the participants could be a confounding factor in artificial language learning experiments even if it does not contain the pattern under investigation. On the phonological side, its aim was to probe Carpenter’s (2010) observation that it is easier to learn an artificial language in which stress is attracted to low vowels than one where stress occurs on high vowels. The results of our research do not provide support for Carpenter’s findings and suggest that artificial language experiments can be affected by the participants’ native language even when that language does not contain the relevant structures.