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How different code-switching types modulate bilinguals’ executive functions: A dual control mode perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2020

Julia Hofweber ,
Theodoros Marinis  and
Jeanine Treffers-Daller
Julia Hofweber*
Affiliation:
University College London & University of Reading
Theodoros Marinis
Affiliation:
University of Konstanz & University of Reading
Jeanine Treffers-Daller
Affiliation:
University of Reading
*
Address for correspondence: Julia Hofweber, E-mail: j.hofweber@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Most existing studies on the relationship between code-switching and executive functions have focused on experimentally induced language-switching, which differs fundamentally from naturalistic code-switching. This study investigated whether and how bilinguals’ code-switching practices modulate different aspects of executive functioning. Our findings suggest that existing processing models of code-switching should be extended by a dual control mode perspective, differentiating between reactive and proactive monitoring. Bilinguals engaging in code-switching types that keep languages more separate (Alternation) displayed inhibitory advantages in a flanker task inducing reactive control. Dense code-switching, which requires bilinguals to constantly monitor cross-linguistic competition, explained performance in proactive monitoring conditions. Furthermore, a correlation between Dense code-switching and response inhibition suggests that linguistic co-activation may persist during articulatory stages of language processing. Crucially, bilinguals outperformed monolinguals at those aspects of the executive system that were trained by their most frequent code-switching habits. This underlines the importance of sociolinguistic variables in bilingualism research.

Keywords

bilingualismcode-switchingexecutive functionsresponse inhibitioninterference suppression
Type
Research Article
Information
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Volume 23 , Special Issue 4: Interpreting: A window into bilingual processing , August 2020 , pp. 909 - 925
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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