Is memory for shapes subject to language-specific effects ? An experimental study of memory span in German and Chinese subjects

Abstract

With German and Chinese subjects, memory span for simple geometrical shapes and random shapes was established. Half of the subjects additionally learned verbal descriptions for the random shapes prior to the trials in which memory span was measured. Throughout all experimental conditions, the Chinese subjects achieved higher memory span scores than the German subjects where simple geometrical shapes were concerned. however, this was not the case where random shapes had to be reproduced. In addition the articulation times for the verbal descriptions of the figures used were measured. The articulation times for the verbal descriptions of both the simple geometrical shapes and the random shapes were shorter in Chinese than they were in German. The appearance of a language-specific effect on memory in the case of simple geometrical shapes and the non-appearance of such an effect in the case of random shapes are discussed within the framework of Baddeley's S working memory model.