Poster #1 - Code-switching as a Significant Indicator of Working Memory Performance in Children

• In Event: Poster Session 04

Abstract

There has been considerable discussion among researchers regarding the benefit of bilingualism on cognitive development. Recent work pointed out that it is likely that language switching rather than bilingual fluency explains the bilingual advantages of executive functions (EFs) (Verreyt et al., 2016). Previous research on code-switching yielded mixed results. Some suggested that frequent language switching had a positive effect on executive functioning (Verreyt et al., 2016), while others failed to find evidence supporting the benefits (Kang & Lust, 2019) . To address this gap, this current study examined how code-switching—speakers switching to another language—and bilingual fluency influence children’s working memory. We administered three measures on 5- to 7- years olds (N =399; 51% female; bilingual n = 132) to assess working memories in three domains: verbal, visual, and spatial. Parents reported the languages that children spoke and heard at home. Results indicate that a code-switching environment at home is a significant indicator of verbal working memory performance. Children who regularly engaged in code-switching showed poorer verbal working memory compared to children who did not code-switch. Children’s bilingual fluency (measured on a continuous scale) predicted better performance in spatial memory. Children who were more fluent in a second language outperformed in spatial memory tasks children who were less fluent. Our findings are consistent with a prior study that demonstrated that frequent code-switching is an indicator of language incompetence rather than competence (Kuzyk et al., 2020). Code-switching may suggest that children need to exert extra effort to cognitively inhibit their dominant language.

Authors

• Rui Zhang, New York University
  Presenting Author

• Guicheng Tan

• Yi Feng, University of California, Irvine

• Geetha B. Ramani, University of Maryland - College Park

• Susanne M. Jaeggi, University of California, Irvine