University of the Basque Country
noelia.sanahuja@ehu.eus
Orcid code: 0000-0003-3034-9046
Micaela Portilla Research Centre, Office 3.2
Justo Vélez de Elorriaga, 1
01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz
I hold a PhD in Linguistics (International, Cum Laude) from the University of the Basque Country. My main research interest is the interaction between lexical and syntactic processing in second language learning.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Second language learning, lexis, syntax, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics
EDUCATION
2020-2024: PhD in Linguistics, Department of Linguistics and Basque Studies, University of the Basque Country.
2018-2019: Master’s degree in Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics, University of the Basque Country.
2014-2018: Bachelor’s degree in English and French studies, Autonomous University of Barcelona.
EXPERIENCE AS RESEARCH ASSISTANT
November 2018 – July 2019: Research assistant in the Department of Linguistics and Basque Studies, University of the Basque Country.
September 2017 – January 2018: Research assistant in the Department of English and German Studies, Autonomous University of Barcelona.
PUBLICATIONS
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2024). The impact of cognate vocabulary on explicit L2 rule learning. Language Teaching Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/
Sanahuja, N., & Pastor, L. (2023). Can the native language be forgotten?. Mapping ignorance. Chair for Scientific Culture of the University of the Basque Country. Available on-line at: https://mappingignorance.org/2023/03/29/can-the-native-language-be-forgotten/
Erdozia, K- & Sanahuja, N. (2021) Bigarren hizkuntzen ikasketa-prozesua. Bi hizkuntza garun bakarrean: euskal psikohizkuntzalaritzaren ekarpenak eta erronkak [The learning process of second languages. Two languages in one brain: the contributions and challenges of Basque psycholinguistics]. Udako Euskal Unibertsitateak eta Euskal Herriko Unibertsitateak lankidetzan argitaratuta, p. 15 -32.
CONFERENCES
Sanahuja, N., de Diego-Balaguer & Erdocia, K. (2024). The facilitative role of cognates in adults’ initial acquisition of cross-linguistically similar and dissimilar L2 structures [oral communication]. LII Symposium of the Spanish Society of Linguistics. Madrid, 22-25th of January.
Sanahuja, N., de Diego-Balaguer & Erdocia, K. (2023). The facilitative role of cognates and cross-linguistic syntactic similarity in initial L2 syntax learning [poster]. XVI International Symposium of Psycholinguistics. Vitoria-Gasteiz, 31st of May – 2nd of June.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2022). The facilitatory role of cognates in second language syntax learning [oral communication]. International APPE-SEPEX Meeting. Faro, 5-7th of May.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2021). The facilitatory role of L1 syntax in the initial learning of L2 syntax [oral communication]. X-PPL: Crosslinguistic Perspectives on Processing and Learning 2021. Zurich, 16-17th of September.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2021). The impact of lexical co-activation through cognates on L2 rule learning [oral communication]. Societas Linguistica Europaea 54th Annual Meeting. Athens, 30th of August – 3rd of September.
Erdocia, K., & Sanahuja, N. (2021). The facilitatory role of L1 syntax in the initial acquisition of L2 syntax [oral communication]. Societas Linguistica Europaea 54th Annual Meeting. Athens, 30th of August – 3rd of September.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2021). The facilitatory role of cognates in second language syntax learning [oral communication]. International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB13. Warsaw, 10-14th of July.
Erdocia, K., & Sanahuja, N. (2021). Cross-Linguistic influence in initial L2 syntax acquisition [poster]. International Symposium on Bilingualism ISB13. Warsaw, 10-14th of July.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2021). The impact of lexical co-activation through cognates on L2 rule learning [oral communication]. XV International Symposium of Psycholinguistics. Madrid, 22-25th of June.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2021). The cognate facilitation effect and its role in second language rule learning [oral communication]. Münster Conference of Linguistic Representations and Language Processing (LiRLaP 2021). Munich, 25-27th of March.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2019). The impact of lexical co-activation through cognates on L2 rule learning [oral communication]. X-PPL: Crosslinguistic Perspectives on Processing and Learning 2019. Zurich, 4-5th of November.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2023). Facilitating initial L2 syntax acquisition: the role of cross-linguistic similarity and lexical frequency [invited speaker]. Linguistics colloquium. Technical University of Brunswick, 24th of April.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2021). The facilitatory role of lexical co-activation in second language rule learning [invited speaker]. Brain mechanisms of language learning seminars. University of Barcelona, 20th of December.
Sanahuja, N., & Erdocia, K. (2020). The impact of lexical co-activation through cognates on L2 rule learning [invited speaker]. Talks on Formal Linguistics. Vitoria-Gasteiz, 5th of November.
REVISION OF ARTICLES
Reviewer of scientific articles for the Journal of the Spanish Society for Experimental Psychology (Psicólogica). URI of the review: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/362459
STAYS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
April – July 2023: Pre-doctoral research stay at the Department of English and American Studies, Technical University of Brunswick (Germany).
March – May 2022: Pre-doctoral research stay at the Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona (Spain).
September – November 2021: Pre-doctoral research stay at the Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona (Spain).
ORGANIZING COMMITTEES
2023: Member of the organizing committee of the XVI International Symposium of Psycholinguistics. Vitoria-Gasteiz, 31st of May – 2nd of June.
2022: Member of the committee coordinating the XXII Week of Science, Technology and Innovation. Vitoria-Gasteiz, 9 – 13th of November.
FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS
Participation in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the Week of Science, Technology and Innovation organized by the University of the Basque Country.
Oral communication: Facilitating second language learning. Zientzia Club (XXII Week of Science, Technology and Innovation). Vitoria-Gasteiz, 11th of November 2022. Video of the communication available at: https://vimeo.com/835382830
RESEARCH PROJECTS FUNDED THROUGH COMPETITIVE CALLS
Cross-linguistic influence in language learning, processing and aging (CROSSLANGUAGING)
PID2021-124056NB-I00 (2022-
Funding agency: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Principal Investigators: Mikel Santesteban & Kepa Erdozia.
Members: Victoria Cano, Noèlia Sanahuja, Eduardo Navarrete and Anna Hatzidaki
Dotation: 51.424 €
The Bilingual Mind
IT1439-22 (2022-2025)
Consolidated Research Group of Excellence, A grade.
Funding agency: Department of Education, Universities and Research, Eusko Jaurlaritza.
Principal Investigator: Itziar Laka Mugarza.
Members: Miren Azkarate, Beatriz Fernández, Mikel Santesteban, Kepa Erdocia, Adam Zawiszewski, Irene De la Cruz Pavía, Ane Berro, Ane Odria, Miren Arantzeta, Itziar San Martín, Svetlana Zimnukhova, Beatriz Gómez, Marta de Pedis, Noèlia Sanahuja, Victoria Cano, Marta Sánchez, Patricia Fuente.
Dotation: 173.000 €
Cross-Ling: Cross-linguistic activation effects in bilingual language processing and learning
PGC2018-097970-B-I00 (2019-2021)
Funding agency: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Principal Investigator: Kepa Erdozia & Mikel Santesteban.
Members: Svetlana Zimnukhova, Anna Hatzidaki, Miren Arantzeta, Noèlia Sanahuja, Victoria Cano.
Dotation: 60.500€
The Bilingual Mind
IT1169-19 (2019-2021)
Consolidated Research Group of Excellence, A grade.
Funding agency: Department of Education, Universities and Research, Eusko Jaurlaritza.
Principal Investigator: Itziar Laka Mugarza.
Members: Miren Azkarate, Xabier Alberdi, Beatriz Fernández, Maitena Echebarria, Mikel Santesteban, Kepa Erdocia, Adam Zawiszewski, Miren Arantzeta, Ane Berro, Ane Odria, Luis Pastor, David Lindemann, Sergio López-Sancio, Gillen Martínez de la Hidalga, Svetlana Zimnukhova, Marta de Pedis, Noèlia Sanahuja, Victoria Cano.
Dotation: 202.300 €
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
2019: Pre-doctoral scholarship for the training of researchers at the University of the Basque Country (PIF19/08).
2019: End-of-degree award. University of the Basque Country.
2018: Graduate collaboration scholarship at the University of the Basque Country, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.
2018: End-of-degree award. Autonomous University of Barcelona.
LANGUAGES
Catalan: native speaker
Spanish: native speaker
English: C2
French: C1
Basque: A2
