Balanced bilingualism and early age of second language acquisition as the underlying mechanisms of a bilingual executive control advantage: why variations in bilingual experiences matter

This research paper is a review of the previous literature that focuses on whether or not there is an influence of second language acquisition during 'critical period'. Critical period refers to acquiring a second language before the age of adulthood. Although there is no consensus among linguists on the impact of the critical period, numerous scholars in the field of second language acquisition agree that language learners gain more benefits during the critical period including mastering the phonological system of the target language. In addition, this paper compares between the potential linguistic benefits between young learners who acquire language at an early age of their lives and their older counterparts who begin learning a language after the age of maturation. Interestingly, those who start studying a second language during the critical period usually outperform their older counterparts due to their exceptional memory traits and fresh speech organs ultimately, it displays the appropriate teaching approaches based on age benefiting from the idea of critical period hypothesis.

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Associations of natural language switching with executive control in early bilinguals

Bilingualism Language and Cognition ◽

10.1017/s1366728920000012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 1008-1019

Author(s):

Raúl López-Penadés ◽

Victor A. Sanchez-Azanza ◽

Eva Aguilar-Mediavilla ◽

Lucía Buil-Legaz ◽

Daniel Adrover-Roig

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Second Language ◽

Second Language Acquisition ◽

Language Acquisition ◽

Natural Language ◽

Language Proficiency ◽

Executive Control ◽

Interference Control ◽

Language Switching ◽

Working Memory Updating

AbstractThis study aimed at identifying linguistic factors that could contribute to understanding individual differences in executive control among bilinguals. Directionality and type of natural language switching, age of second language acquisition, and language proficiency were evaluated in a sample of 112 early bilingual adults. Participants performed several computerized tasks tapping into three dimensions of executive control: inhibition of interference, working memory updating, and shifting. Regression analyses showed that frequent switching to the second language was associated with more efficient executive processing, enhanced working memory updating processes, and better shifting ability. Moreover, higher frequency of unintended language switches was associated with lower interference control abilities. Frequency of language switching behavior was the principal predictor of executive control, beyond age of second language acquisition and language proficiency. Results suggest that frequent language switching is related to enhanced executive control, while the unintended switching of languages could be associated with low interference control.

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