Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
05:31
Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task
Published on: February 26, 2020
Language learning and control in monolinguals and bilinguals.
James Bartolotti1, Viorica Marian
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. j-bartolotti@u.northwestern.edu
Cognitive Science
|April 3, 2012
Summary
Bilinguals better manage native language interference when learning new languages. Their experience improves control over competing languages, aiding faster lexical retrieval in novel language acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Bilingualism involves managing competition between languages.
- This experience may enhance novel language learning by improving interference control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how bilingualism affects the control of native-language interference during new language learning.
- To compare monolinguals and bilinguals in their ability to suppress known language competition.
Main Methods:
- Monolinguals and bilinguals learned an artificial language.
- Eye-tracking and mouse-tracking assessed interlingual competitor activation during word recognition.
- Behavioral data analyzed to quantify interference and control.
Main Results:
- Monolinguals fixated on native-language competitors longer than bilinguals.
- Mouse movements of monolinguals were drawn to competitors, unlike bilinguals.
- Bilinguals demonstrated superior suppression of interference from known languages.
Conclusions:
- Bilinguals manage cross-linguistic interference more effectively than monolinguals.
- Bilingualism may facilitate learning new languages by reducing native language interference.
- Language interference impacts lexical retrieval, but bilingualism can mitigate this effect.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:28Lateralization
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
01:24Components of Language
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
01:27Associative Learning
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...