Executive functions are modulated by the context of dual language use: diglossic, bilingual and monolingual older adults

Alrwaita, N., Houston-Price, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6368-142X, Meteyard, L., Voits, T. and Pliatsikas, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7093-1773 (2024) Executive functions are modulated by the context of dual language use: diglossic, bilingual and monolingual older adults. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 27 (1). pp. 178-203. ISSN 1469-1841 doi: 10.1017/S1366728923000056

Abstract/Summary

Studies investigating the role of dual language use in modulating executive functions have reported mixed results, with some studies reporting benefits in older adults. These studies typically focus on bilingual settings, while the role of dual language use in diglossic settings is rarely investigated. In diglossia, the two language varieties are separated by context, making it an ideal test case for the effects on cognition of Single Language Contexts, as defined by the Adaptive Control Hypothesis (Green & Abutalebi 2013). We compare the performances of three groups of older adults, Arab diglossics (n=28), bilinguals (n=29), and monolinguals (n=41), on the Flanker and Stroop tasks, measuring inhibition abilities, and the Color-shape task, measuring switching abilities. We report a diglossic benefit in inhibition as measured by the Flanker task only, and no benefits for the bilingual group. These findings are discussed with reference to conversational contexts in dual language use.