Memory and the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon

Abstract EN

This study is a psycholinguistic investigation of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon (henceforth TOT) as being experienced by a sample of advanced Iraqi learners of English.

The study is based on the assumption that since speaking is a universal process for all humans, then speaking production models and theories should be broad enough to describe and explain any phenomenon in any language used whether or not that language is a native or a foreign language and specifically the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.

Therefore, advanced Iraqi learners of English could undergo such a phenomenon while using English as a foreign language.

This study consists of two parts and seven appendices.

The first part is the theoretical part of the study which is considered the basis for defining and explaining the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, and the basis for understanding the discussion of the results of the second part.

However, the second part sheds light on the experimental work of the study.

It includes the analysis of the experimental work, the discussion of the results, conclusions, recommendations and suggestions.

Among the main conclusions are: 1.

Although there were no significant differences in state between the males and the females in the test, it is clear that the males underwent the TOT state more than the females in few specific items.

2.

Although there were a restricted number of the TOT state cases; however, in those cases almost all the speech production models and theories that explain the TOT phenomenon are applicable.

3.

Most of the TOT state cases occurred in test No.

four.

That is to say, the subjects underwent the TOT state with verbs and adjectives more than with nouns.

4.

Concerning the detected TOT cases, they occurred more with words that have sparse neighborhoods than words that have dense neighborhoods.

5.

The recency variable effect was quite clear in test No.

three.

The more recent the word is the more it affects the incidence of the TOT states.

6.

Length of words affects the incidence of the TOTS.

7.

Only in test No.

one there were no significant state differences among the males, on the one hand, and among the females, on the other.

However, in tests: two, three and four there were significant state differences among the males and among the females.

8.

Statistically speaking, there is only one case for the whole test in which the group of the females and the group of the total are in the “I know” state.

This case is for item No.

two in test No.

three.