Semantic context effects in monolingual and bilingual speakers

Most models of word production converge on the assumption that selecting a specific to name is competitive process. Monolingual speakers experience lexical competition in their spoken language (i.e., within-language competition), but bilingual who constantly juggle two sets items face within- and between-language competition. It has been argued one reasons perform poorly linguistic tasks compared monolinguals interference from non-target language. However, this constant juggling languages also proposed lead better executive control abilities bilinguals. The aim research was determine relationship between increased as induced by semantic context manipulation blocked-cyclic picture naming paradigm, processes monolingual speakers. We implemented paradigm induce employed independent understand its role reducing computed delta plots – size effects function latencies investigate type inhibition involved paradigm. In objects be named were presented close succession, either same categories (homogeneous: elephant, lion, deer, tiger, cat) or different ones (heterogeneous: pear, shoes, lips, saw, deer). Naming are longer homogeneous due heightened activation competitors, difference heterogeneous contexts referred effect. participants 25 young, healthy Bengali-English bilinguals healthy, age-, gender- education-matched English monolinguals. All performed task well three tasks, tapping into inhibitory (Stroop task), mental-set shifting (colour-shape switch working memory (backward digit span task). key group differences follows: showed less effect more facilitation first presentation cycle, applied selective both Stroop measured plots, task) abilities, comparable span. correlation findings for groups slope slowest segment correlated with magnitude task, no correlations any measures derived tasks. This study establish affected show reduced longest latencies, illustrates even challenging heightens competition, than challenges notion disadvantaged we conclude provides evidence advantage bilingualism where demands higher.