About the project
One of the core aspects of the project is the study of code-switching as a means to understand the cognitive components that are connected to the use of two languages.
Language switching, changing from language to the other, is a common practice among bilingual speakers. According to previous research, switching affects certain aspects of cognition like working memory, the ability to shift between tasks or to ignore irrelevant information.
While many studies have researched code-swtiching and cognition in adults, our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of language switching in children is very limited. Thus, the first study of this project is on code-swtiching in pre-school children.
Objectives
Our central questions include:
- Do individual differences in EF predict switching costs in bilingual children?
- What is the role of the three components IC, WM and shifting in children’s code-switching?
- How does parental code-switching towards the child influence children’s switching strategies?