Autobiographical memory in bilinguals: self memory system in a Kurdish-Turkish sample

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1606907 (Table of Contents)

The present study explored how language and self influence retrieval of autobiographical memories among bilinguals. More specifically, the present study is aimed primarily at examining the emerging differences in characteristics of autobiographical memories mediated by the relationship between the language they use and the self associated with the language. To explore this dynamic relationship Conway‟s and Pleydell-Pearce‟s (2000) Self Memory System framework was adapted. 41 Kurdish-Turkish bilinguals whose ages ranged between 18 and 59 were asked to provide three memories from different points in time in response to cue-words. Interviews were conducted in two sessions; in either Kurdish or Turkish with a gap of two weeks. Time points were determined to be as 1 week ago, 1 year ago, and 10-15 years ago. In addition, participants were asked to retrieve their earliest childhood memories In each session participants were asked to rate their memories in various phenomenological properties. These properties included relieving, auditory imagery, vividness, vantage, remember-know, remembering in sentences in addition to intensity, rehearsal, consequentiality and accessibility of the memories. The findings revealed that the qualitative characteristics of the memories differed when the participants were speaking Kurdish or Turkish during the interviews.