Is There an Effect of Diglossia on Executive Functions? An Investigation among Adult Diglossic Speakers of Arabic

Recent studies investigating whether bilingualism has effects on cognitive abilities beyond language have produced mixed results, with evidence from young adults typically showing no effects. These inconclusive patterns been attributed to many uncontrolled factors, including linguistic similarity and the conversational contexts bilinguals find themselves in, opportunities they get switch between their languages. In this study, we focus cognition of diglossia, a situation where two varieties same are spoken in different clearly separable contexts. We used linear models compare 32 Arabic diglossic 38 English monolinguals tasks assessing executive function domains inhibition, switching. Results revealed that, despite both groups performing as expected all tasks, there were diglossia any these domains. results discussed relation Adaptive Control Hypothesis. propose that functions could be use more than one or variety may not readily limited for switching them, especially younger adults.