Assessing the Scope of Expertise-driven Advantages in Bimodal and Unimodal Bilinguals: A Comparison of Signed and Spoken Language Interpreters

PI: Manson C-M. Fong

Co-Is: Min-hua Liu

Funding body: HKRGC-GRF 12609821

Research on bilingualism has prompted the ‘bilingual advantage hypothesis’, positing that language control is needed when two languages are processed and such a control during bilingual processing enhances cognitive functioning. However, investigations have shown that, compared with bilinguals who are fluent in two spoken languages (unimodal bilinguals), those who use a sign language and a spoken language (sign-speech or bimodal bilinguals) do not appear to show a bimodal advantage (Emmorey, Luk, et al., 2008). It is assumed that the different language modalities (one signed and one spoken) in bimodal bilinguals allow simultaneous production of two languages and reduce the demands for language control because the two languages do not compete for the same articulatory output system (Emmorey, et al., 2016). However, previous research has not investigated whether inhibitory control and the related language switching cost are influenced by sign language proficiency and experience. A second uncertainty is that only a limited number of studies have focused on cognitive abilities that are especially implicated in sign languages, most notably visuospatial functions.

In the present project, participants with a broad range of bilingual competency and experience would be included; their cognitive abilities will then be assessed with a comprehensive cognitive test battery that goes beyond inhibitory control and puts a special emphasis on visuospatial functions. Our results will clarify whether the posited bimodal advantage will only be manifested in the specific cognitive functions, and whether it will emerge only with increasing competency or experience in sign language. Overall, our approach will shed light on the adaptive capacity of bilingual cognitive systems.

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Foreign Language Learning GRF