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Novel-word learning, executive control and working memory: A bilingual advantage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

MEESHA A. WARMINGTON ,
SWATHI KANDRU-POTHINENI  and
GRAHAM J. HITCH
MEESHA A. WARMINGTON*
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield
SWATHI KANDRU-POTHINENI
Affiliation:
University of York
GRAHAM J. HITCH
Affiliation:
University of York
*
Address for correspondence: Dr. Meesha Warmington, Department of Human Communication Sciences, University of Sheffield, 362 Mushroom Lane, Sheffield, S10 2TSm.warmington@sheffield.ac.uk
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Abstract

Studies of the effects of bilingualism on cognition have given results that do not consistently replicate, reflecting at least in part wide differences in criteria for bilingualism and heterogeneity of language combinations within studied samples. We examined the bilingual advantage in attention, working memory and novel-word learning in early sequential Hindi–English bilinguals. We sought to clarify the aspects of cognition that benefit from bilingualism by using multiple measures and a sample sufficiently well-defined to permit independent replication. Bilinguals outperformed monolinguals on response inhibition, novel-word learning and almost all working memory tasks. In contrast, both groups performed comparably on selective attention. Analyses of individual differences showed that bilingual novel-word learning was related to their verbal working memory and ability to inhibit an ongoing action, whereas this was not the case for monolinguals. Results indicate a specific bilingual advantage that is confined to some but not all aspects of cognition.

Keywords

attentionbilingualismexecutive controlnovel-word learningworking memory
Type
Research Article
Information
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 763 - 782
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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Footnotes

* The authors are grateful to the students who participated in this study; and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Note: At the time when this study was conducted Swathi Kandru-Pothineni was affiliated with the University of York.

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