Linguaggio e cognizione: implicazioni dal bilinguismo

Abstract

Studies investigating the so-called “bilingual advantage” show that the experience of early exposure to two language and the constant practice of selecting the target language avoiding intrusion of the non-target language, can improve skills such as selective attention, inhibition and cognitive control with respect to non verbal tasks. These benefits also include the early development of metalinguistic abilities in bilingual children. Overall, the results of these studies are providing important contributions on the relationship between language and cognition. In this brief review we will try to highlight the extent to which the condition of bilingualism may have effects on executive control and attempt to identify new research perspectives and hypothesis to enrich the knowledge about bilingual advantage.