Two languages in one mind: insights into cognitive effects of bilingualism from usage-based approaches

Korenar, M., Treffers-Daller, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6575-6736 and Pliatsikas, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7093-1773 (2023) Two languages in one mind: insights into cognitive effects of bilingualism from usage-based approaches. Naše řeč, 106 (1). pp. 24-46. ISSN 2571-0893 doi: 10.58756/n11062303

Abstract/Summary

Bilingualism has been associated with changes in our language-related and domain-general cognition. However, it remains controversial whether bilingualism-related cognitive effects are robust and stable. Also, it is still unclear what about being bilingual causes the plasticity of cognitive processes. This article offers a selective overview of the literature on bilingualism and cognition. We will discuss results from studies which investigated sources of cognitive plasticity in bilinguals, using prominent bilingual factors. We argue that, at least in part, the field deals with the controversies by viewing bilingualism through the perspective of usage-based (or experience-based) approaches, albeit such a link is not always made explicitly. Viewing bilingual variables as indicators of language use and engagement with both languages might offer promising ways forward while allowing for comparisons of existing studies on bilingualism with more recent ones, which build on the usage-based perspective more explicitly.