Bilingualism's Influence on Cognitive Development

Authors

  • Aya Mohamed Taha Mohamed School of foundation and General Education, Canadian College of Kuwait-AlGonquin, Kuwait

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.119.17608

Keywords:

Bilingualism, Cognitive Development, Executive Functions, Language Processing, Auditory Processing, Cognitive Aging

Abstract

This paper explores the influence of bilingualism on cognitive development, focusing on its effects on executive functions, language processing, and auditory processing. The study examines different classifications of bilingualism and their implications for cognitive performance. Findings suggest that bilingual individuals often exhibit enhanced executive functions, such as improved attention, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities. Additionally, bilingualism may contribute to delayed onset of age-related cognitive decline. However, some challenges, including language interference and processing delays, are noted. The paper concludes by highlighting the cognitive advantages and potential limitations of bilingualism, providing insights into its role in shaping cognitive processes across the lifespan.

References

Ali, A. (2023). Effect of bilingualism on cognitive development in children. Alustath Journal for Human and Social Sciences, 62(4). https://doi.org/10.36473/ujhss.v62i4.2278

Associated Press. (2001). Some facts about the world's 6,800 tongues. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2001-06-19/us/language.glance_1_languagesorigin-tongues?_s=PM:US

Bartolotti, J., & Marian, V. (2012). Language learning and control in monolinguals and bilinguals. Cognitive Science, 36, 1129–1147.

Beaver, M. K., & Wright, P. J. (2007). Self-Control as an Executive Function. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34.

Bialystok, E. (2001). Bilingualism in development: Language, literacy, and cognition. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Bialystok, E. (2009). Bilingualism: The good, the bad, and the indifferent. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 12(1), 3-11.

Craik, F. I., Bialystok, E., & Freedman, M. (2010). Delaying the onset of Alzheimer disease: Bilingualism as a form of cognitive reserve. Neurology, 75(19), 1726–1729.

European Commission Special Eurobarometer. (2006). Europeans and their languages. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf

Harmers, J. F., & Blanc, M. H. A. (2000). Bilinguality and Bilingualism (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press.

Hull, R., & Vaid, J. (2006). Laterality and Language experience. Laterality, 11, 436-464.

Ibrahim, R., Shoshani, R., Prior, A., & Share, D. (2013). Bilingualism and measures of spontaneous and reactive cognitive flexibility. Psychology, 4(7A), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2013.47A001

Kaushanskaya, M., & Marian, V. (2009). The bilingual advantage in novel word learning. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 16(4), 705–710.

Kovacs, A. M., & Mehler, J. (2009). Cognitive gains in 7-month-old bilingual infants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(16), 6556–6560.

Krizman, J., Marian, V., Shook, A., Skoe, E., & Kraus, N. (2012). Subcortical encoding of sound is enhanced in bilinguals and relates to executive function advantages. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109(20), 7877–7881.

Marian, V., & Spivey, M. (2003). Bilingual and monolingual processing of competing lexical items. Applied Psycholinguistics, 24(2), 173–193.

Mariana, V., Shook, A. (2012). The cognitive benefits of being bilingual.

Michael, E. B. & Gollan, T. H. (2005). Being and becoming bilingual: Individual differences and consequences for language production. In Kroll & de Groot (eds.), pp. 389–407.

Perani, D., Farsad, M., Ballarini, T., Lubiane, F., Malpetti, M., Fracchetti, A., Magnani, G., March, A., & Abutalebi, J. (2016). The impact of bilingualism on brain reserve and metabolic connectivity in Alzheimer's dementia. Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. 240 Mohamed, A. M. T. (2024). Bilingualism’s Influence on Cognitive Development. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(9). 234-241.

Seçer, I. (2016). Skills of cognitive flexibility in monolingual and bilingual younger adults. The Journal of General Psychology, 143(3), 172-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.2016.1200530

Torres, V. L., Rosselli, M., Loewenstein, D. A., Lang, M., Vélez-Uribe, I., Arruda, F., Conniff, J., Curiel, R. E., Greig, M. T., Barker, W. W., Rodriguez, M. J., Adjouadi, M., Vaillancourt, D. E., Bauer, R., & Duara, R. (2021). The Contribution of Bilingualism to Cognitive Functioning and Regional Brain Volume in Normal and Abnormal Aging. Cambridge University Press

United States Census Bureau. American Community Survey. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

Yoshida, H. (2008). The cognitive consequences of early bilingualism. University of Houston.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-30

How to Cite

Mohamed, A. M. T. (2024). Bilingualism’s Influence on Cognitive Development . Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(9), 234–241. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.119.17608