Chapter 7 Bilingualism and CognitionBy:Ana Zulianingrum

Introduction“If it were possible for a child to live in two languages at once equally well, so much the worse. His intellectual and spiritual growth would not thereby be doubted, but halved. Unity of mind and character would have great difficulty in asserting itself in such circumstances” (Laurie, 1890:15)

Bilingualism and IntelligencePeriod of Detrimental Effects

Bilingual’s intellectual growth would not be doubted by being bilingual.

IQ score compared, bilinguals were behind monolinguals.

Bilinguals were mentally confused.(Saerr, 1923)

Problems of defining

Intelligence is relatively fixed and unlikely to be affected by becoming bilingual.

IQ tests tend to relate a middle class, white, western view of intelligence.

Factors and components(Gardner, 1984)

Logical-

MathKinesthetics

Personal

INTELLIGENCES

Linguistics

Spatial

Musical

Measuring intelligence

• IQ administered in English only

• Test lg weakness and under performedLg

Testing

• Simple average comparison

• No significant differences

Analysis• Simplistic

classification

• Incentive and imprecise mannerClassificati

on

Cont.

• No generalization over samples

• Convenience samples

Generalization

• Context circumstances

• Subtractive Addictive

Context• Two equal groups• Sociocultural,

gender, environment

Matched group

The period of neutral effectsNo different conclusion in small

numberHighlights the inadequacies of

early research”Neutral” effects chronologically

overlaps detrimental and additive periods

The period of additive effects

New territory

in 3 respects

Research overcome

many methodologi

cal deficiencies

of detrimental

effects

Bilingualism need not

have detrimental or neutral

consequences

Bilingualism is not a source of national

intellectual inferiority.

Bilingualism and Brain, 5 proportions:

Balanced bilinguals will

use right hemisphere more than

monolinguals.

SLA will involve the right

hemisphere in Lg. processing

As proficiency grows, right

hemisphere will decrease

Who acquire language

naturally will use right hemisphere

Late bilinguals will use right hemisphere

Bilingualism, divergent, and creative thinking Divergent thinking is investigated by asking

questions “How many….” Creative thinking(North American) analyzes the

answers to the “Uses of an Object” Fluency score in CT is the different acceptable

answer Flexibility score is the number of different

categories measured by references. Elaboration refers to the extent of extra detail that

a person gives beyond the basic use of an object.

Major problems:

1. Some studies fail to control adequately differences

2. Some studies have small samples 3. Some studies fail to define the

level and degree of bilingualism4. Not all studies find positive

relationship5. The term “Creativity” is defined

in different ways

Bilingualism and metalinguistic awareness: Initial research Doyle “Bilinguals tend to be

superior in their ability to relate stories and to express concepts within stories”

Leopald “An effect apparently due to bilingualism”

Worrall “Sound and meaning separation idea. No differences between mono and bilinguals in their choices”

Recent trendsRecent trends has been to look at

the process rather than products of thinking

Working within the information processing

Memorization and language processing approaches in psychology

Bilingualism and communicative sensitivityWhat is communicative sensitivity? Bilinguals need to be aware of which

language to speak in which situationBilingual increases sensitivity to the

social nature and communicative function of language

Field dependency and independencyDescending order of scores of

independence:1. Proficient bilinguals2. Partial bilinguals3. Late language learners

Parts model of intelligence

• Adapting environment in which one is placed.

Contextual subtheory

• Intelligent behavior as variable depending on how much experience a person has of a situation

Experiential Subtheory

• Processes that underlie intelligent behavior

Componential Subtheory

Limitation of findings• Research needs to match monolingual

and bilingual groups on all variables

• Cognitive advantages mostly focused on balanced bilinguals.

• Cause and effect relationship must again be highlighted.