Second Language Proficiency Modulates the Dependency of Bilingual Language Control on Domain-General Cognitive Control

Abstract

The relationship between bilingual language control and domain-general cognitive control has been a hot topic in the research field of bilingualism. Previous studies mostly examined the correlation between performances of bilinguals in language control tasks and that in domain-general cognitive control tasks and came to the conclusions that they overlap, partially overlap, or are qualitatively different. These contradictory conclusions are possibly due to the neglect of the moderating effect of second language (L2) proficiency, that is, the relationship between bilingual language control and domain-general cognitive control might vary with the L2 proficiency of bilinguals. To examine this hypothesis, we recruited 36 unbalanced Chinese-English bilinguals to perform the Simon task (to assess domain-general cognitive control), Oxford Placement Test (to assess L2 proficiency), and picture naming tasks in single-and dual-language contexts (to evoke local and global language control). We find that Simon scores positively predicted switching costs in bilinguals with low L2 proficiency, but not in bilinguals with high L2 proficiency. Furthermore, Simon scores positively predicted mixing costs in bilinguals with high L2 proficiency, but not in bilinguals with low L2 proficiency. These results verify the moderating effect of L2 proficiency on the relationship between bilingual language control and domain-general cognitive control, that is, bilinguals with more proficient L2 rely on domain-general cognitive control less for local language control and more for global language control. This may imply a shift from local to global for the dependency of bilingual language control on domain-general cognitive control during the L2 development of bilinguals.

The (dis)engagement of different components of inhibitory control in trilingual language control.

“…Specifically, the trilingual participants in the present study are highly proficient in their L2. Notably, L2 proficiency has recently been suggested to modulate the engagement of inhibitory control in bilingual language control (Wang et al, 2022). Specifically, it was found by Wang et al (2022) that the Simon effect only predicted switch costs among participants with low levels of L2 proficiency.…”

“…Notably, L2 proficiency has recently been suggested to modulate the engagement of inhibitory control in bilingual language control (Wang et al, 2022). Specifically, it was found by Wang et al (2022) that the Simon effect only predicted switch costs among participants with low levels of L2 proficiency. For highly proficient bilinguals, however, the Simon effect was positively correlated with mixing costs.…”

“…Despite some inconsistencies between these two studies, they both documented the engagement of domain-general inhibitory control in multilingual language control. Importantly, L2 proficiency has been observed to modulate this engagement in a recent bilingual study (Wang et al, 2022). In their study, the researchers observed a positive correlation between the Simon effect and switch costs in bilinguals with low L2 proficiency.…”

“…Li et al, 2021). Further, second language (L2) proficiency was shown to modulate the recruitment of domain-general inhibitory control in bilingual language control (Wang et al, 2022).…”

“…response inhibition and interference suppression (Bunge et al, 2002), that were recently found to predict different levels (i.e., global and local) of bilingual language control (S. . Further, second language (L2) proficiency was shown to modulate the recruitment of domain-general inhibitory control in bilingual language control (Wang et al, 2022).…”