Changes in real-life linguistic environment benefit executive control: A longitudinal study

Aims and Objectives: This study explored the impact of bilinguals’ long-term language experience on cognitive resources through a longitudinal study. In addition, the study also investigated how executive control in bilinguals differs as a function of contextual differences arising due to geographical variations. Design: Malayalam–English bilinguals from two different geographical locations – University of Hyderabad and University of Kerala – were compared on a Flanker task induced with three different interactional contexts distinguished by the second language proficiency of the interlocutors. The participants differed in terms of their daily language exposure to both Malayalam and English, which in turn reflected on the language used in different domains of life. Data and Analysis: Reaction time and conflict effect were analysed across different experimental conditions using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings Results showed that modulation of cognitive control depended on the task-induced interactional contexts as well as a long-term language experience. Only participants from the University of Hyderabad demonstrated superior conflict resolution in the presence of a high-L2 proficient interlocutor. Originality: This study matched two groups of participants from two different geographical locations and compared how they adapt to interactional context over a period of time. Significance: The study highlights the importance of bilingual language experience and its modulatory role on the cognitive system.