Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which cognitive skill is most enhanced in bilinguals, allowing them to switch between tasks more efficiently?
Which cognitive skill is most enhanced in bilinguals, allowing them to switch between tasks more efficiently?
- Executive function (correct)
- Auditory processing
- Memory consolidation
- Emotional regulation
Historical views on bilingualism considered it beneficial for cognitive development.
Historical views on bilingualism considered it beneficial for cognitive development.
False (B)
What is the term for the phenomenon where infants lose the ability to distinguish phonemes not present in their native language?
What is the term for the phenomenon where infants lose the ability to distinguish phonemes not present in their native language?
perceptual narrowing
Bilinguals often separate their languages and may engage in __________, mixing languages when speaking with other bilinguals who understand both.
Bilinguals often separate their languages and may engage in __________, mixing languages when speaking with other bilinguals who understand both.
Match the type of bilingualism with its description:
Match the type of bilingualism with its description:
What advantage might simultaneous bilinguals have over sequential bilinguals in terms of phoneme acquisition?
What advantage might simultaneous bilinguals have over sequential bilinguals in terms of phoneme acquisition?
Prosody, or speech rhythm patterns, plays no role in helping infants differentiate between languages.
Prosody, or speech rhythm patterns, plays no role in helping infants differentiate between languages.
What is a cognitive strategy that monolinguals typically use around 18 months to learn new words, which bilinguals may not rely on as much?
What is a cognitive strategy that monolinguals typically use around 18 months to learn new words, which bilinguals may not rely on as much?
Bilingualism's effect on the brain demonstrates __________, highlighting the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to new experiences.
Bilingualism's effect on the brain demonstrates __________, highlighting the brain's ability to reorganize itself in response to new experiences.
Match the language type to its rhythmic characteristic:
Match the language type to its rhythmic characteristic:
Bilingual children are able to recognize which language their mother spoke while in utero?
Bilingual children are able to recognize which language their mother spoke while in utero?
Monolingual children tend to focus on audiovisual cues, like the speaker's mouth, more than bilingual children.
Monolingual children tend to focus on audiovisual cues, like the speaker's mouth, more than bilingual children.
What are the wider opportunities that bilingualism can provide?
What are the wider opportunities that bilingualism can provide?
Infants initially perceive a full spectrum of verbal sounds, but over time, specialize in the sounds of their native language. This is called _______.
Infants initially perceive a full spectrum of verbal sounds, but over time, specialize in the sounds of their native language. This is called _______.
Match the bilingualism effect with the outcome:
Match the bilingualism effect with the outcome:
What aspect of language might infants use to initially differentiate between English and Spanish?
What aspect of language might infants use to initially differentiate between English and Spanish?
Bilinguals are less likely to follow audiovisual cues involving the speaker's mouth when learning a new language.
Bilinguals are less likely to follow audiovisual cues involving the speaker's mouth when learning a new language.
Name the cognitive mechanisms are key in linking bilingualism to enhanced executive function.
Name the cognitive mechanisms are key in linking bilingualism to enhanced executive function.
Bilingualism is associated with a delayed diagnosis of _______, illustrating a benefit of brain plasticity.
Bilingualism is associated with a delayed diagnosis of _______, illustrating a benefit of brain plasticity.
Match the type of bilingualism to the age of the individual:
Match the type of bilingualism to the age of the individual:
Flashcards
Ambiguous Figures
Ambiguous Figures
Illusions that can be perceived in multiple ways.
Simultaneous Bilingualism
Simultaneous Bilingualism
Learning two languages from birth.
Sequential Bilingualism
Sequential Bilingualism
Learning a second language after establishing a first language.
Phoneme Acquisition
Phoneme Acquisition
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Perceptual Narrowing
Perceptual Narrowing
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Code-Switching
Code-Switching
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Prosody
Prosody
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Mutual Exclusivity
Mutual Exclusivity
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Executive Function
Executive Function
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Brain Plasticity
Brain Plasticity
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Study Notes
Ambiguous Figures and Bilingualism
- Ambiguous figures (e.g., the duck-rabbit illusion) are used to study visual perception and cognition.
- Bilingual children are more adept at switching between ambiguous figures compared to monolingual children.
Historical Perceptions of Bilingualism
- There was a misconception that bilingualism hindered development and language acquisition.
- Recent research suggests that bilingualism significantly impacts brain function.
Types of Bilingualism
- Simultaneous bilinguals learn two languages from infancy.
- Sequential bilinguals learn a second language after establishing a dominant language.
- Phonetics and accent: Simultaneous bilinguals are more likely to master all phonemes of both languages without an accent
Phoneme Acquisition
- Humans can produce about 800 distinct verbal sounds (phonemes).
- Individual languages use only a subset of these phonemes.
- Infants can initially perceive the full spectrum of phonemes.
- Perceptual narrowing: Infants specialize in the sounds of their native language, losing the ability to hear others.
- Bilingual children retain phonemes from both languages if learned from infancy.
- Sequential bilinguals often retain an accent.
Language Differentiation in Bilinguals
- Bilingual children can distinguish between their two languages from birth based on the languages their mom spoke while in utero, even as newborns.
- Bilinguals separate languages, mentally switching between them.
- Code-switching: Bilinguals may mix languages when speaking to other bilinguals who understand both.
Prosody and Language Learning
- Prosody (speech rhythm patterns) may help infants differentiate languages.
- English (stress-timed language) has rhythm based on important words.
- Spanish (syllable-timed language) gives syllables more equal timing.
- Word order (SVO vs. SOV) influences prosody.
Language Learning Strategies
- Monolinguals use mutual exclusivity (mapping a novel word to a novel object) around 18 months.
- Bilinguals don't rely on mutual exclusivity as much.
- Bilinguals focus on audiovisual cues, like the speaker's mouth.
Cognitive Effects of Bilingualism
- Bilingual children may show slight delays in language milestones due to a heavier cognitive workload.
- Bilinguals exhibit different brain activity during executive function tasks.
- Attention and inhibition are key mechanisms.
- Bilinguals are better at tests with ambiguous figures due to enhanced executive function.
- Enhanced executive function linked to better academic abilities.
Brain Plasticity and Bilingualism
- Bilingualism alters brain organization, demonstrating brain plasticity.
- Bilingualism is associated with delayed Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Social and Cultural Benefits
- Bilingualism offers social and cultural advantages.
- Wider communication opportunities and richer experiences.
- These benefits are available to both simultaneous and sequential bilinguals.
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