The Hierarchical Activation Model of Multilingual Mental Representation: A Dynamic Tiered Structure Integrating Neurocognitive and Psycholinguistic Perspectives

Abstract

This study introduces the Hierarchical Activation Model (HAM), a novel neurocognitive framework designed to elucidate the intricate mechanisms underlying mental language representation in trilingual and multilingual individuals. By synthesizing meta-analytic findings from fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) research with established psycholinguistic theories—specifically Dijkstra’s Language Competition Model (Dijkstra et al., 1998) and Potter’s Lexical-Conceptual Mediation Hypothesis (Kroll, 1993)—HAM posits that multilingual mental representations are organized in a stratified structure. HAM posits a three-tiered hierarchy where L1 serves as the foundational anchor, L2 acts as an integrative layer, and L3 forms an adaptive network mediated by L2, with each tier corresponding to distinct neural substrates (e.g., left inferior frontal gyrus for L1, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex for L2)
To validate the model, this paper conducts in-depth cross-linguistic analyses of real-world translation phenomena, such as the semantic mapping of culturally-bound terms and emotional language processing across languages. These analyses demonstrate HAM’s explanatory power in revealing the nested cognitive processes that govern multilingual language use. As a significant advancement in the field, HAM transcends traditional bilingual models, offering a comprehensive theoretical lens to understand the cognitive dynamics of multilingualism, and has potential implications for language education, neurocognitive research, and computational modeling.