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Language switching during bilingual reading
Author(s) -
DalrympleAlford E. C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
british journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.536
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8295
pISSN - 0007-1269
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8295.1985.tb01935.x
Subject(s) - psychology , alternation (linguistics) , reading (process) , linguistics , neuroscience of multilingualism , cognitive psychology , word (group theory) , neuroscience , philosophy
Evidence for the hypothesis that bilingual performance requiring alternation of languages involves language‐switching mechanisms is critically examined. Four experiments are reported in which bilinguals read mixed‐language word lists. The results indicate that if switching mechanisms are implicated they operate much more quickly than previously suggested. Further, shifting languages was not found to result in slower responding when the transition was across translation‐equivalent words. An account is offered of these and related findings without invoking the operation of language‐switching mechanisms.