This study used the visual world paradigm to investigate novel word learning in adults from different language backgrounds and the effects of phonology, homophony, and rest on the outcome. We created Mandarin novel words varied by types of phonological contrasts and homophone status. During the experiment, native (n = 34) and non-native speakers (English; n = 30) learned pairs of novel words and were tested twice with a 15-minute break in between, which was spent either resting or gaming. In the post-break test of novel word recognition, an interaction appeared between language backgrounds, phonology, and homophony: non-native speakers performed less accurately than native speakers only on non-homophones learned in pairs with tone contrasts. Eye movement data indicated that non-native speakers’ processing of tones may be more effortful than their processing of segments while learning homophones, as demonstrated by the time course. Interestingly, no significant effects of rest were observed across language groups; yet after gaming, native speakers achieved higher accuracy than non-native speakers. Overall, this study suggests that Mandarin novel word learning can be affected by participants’ language backgrounds and phonological and homophonous features of words. However, the role of short periods of rest in novel word learning requires further investigation.

本研究使用视觉世界范式来调查来自不同语言背景的成年人的新词学习以及音系、同音词和休止对结果的影响。我们创造了不同音韵对比和同音状态的普通话小说词。在实验过程中，母语人士（n = 34）和非母语人士（英语；n = 30）学习了成对的新词，并进行了两次测试，中间有 15 分钟的休息时间，休息或玩游戏。在新词识别的休息后测试中，语言背景、音系和同音词之间出现了相互作用：非母语者仅在与音调对比成对学习的非同音词上表现得不如母语者准确。眼动数据表明，非母语人士在学习同音词时对声调的处理可能比对片段的处理更费力，正如时间进程所证明的那样。有趣的是，在不同语言群体中没有观察到休息的显着影响。然而在游戏之后，母语人士比非母语人士获得了更高的准确率。总体而言，这项研究表明，普通话小说单词学习可能会受到参与者的语言背景以及单词的语音和同音特征的影响。然而，短时间休息在新词学习中的作用需要进一步研究。