Immediate and Delayed Recall for Words and Non-Words in Native and Non-Native Speakers

Abstract

Memory is an important aspect of cognition. Recall and recognition can be used as experimental tasks for assessing memory. Non-Word Recall taps phonological short term memory. The non-word recall is language sensitive hence there is a need to investigate this ability in native and on-native speakers.  The current study aimed to study immediate and delayed recall in native and non-native speakers. A total of 30 participants (15 native and 15 non-native speakers) in the age range of 18-30 years participated in the study. 15 words and 15 non-words were presented in Malayalam and the participants were asked to recall the stimulus immediately after the stimulus presentation and 2 days post stimulus presentation. The results of the showed that the performance on recall varied for words and non-words. Performance on Recall was better for native compared to non-native speakers.