Does the Relation Between the Control of Attention and Second Language Proficiency Generalize From India to Canada?

Over the last decades, the extralinguistic benefits of bilingualism have been intensively debated. The current study was aimed at clarifying whether bilingualism speeds attentional disengagement. Reflecting faster disengagement, Mishra, Hilchey, Singh, and Klein (2012) observed an earlier onset of inhibition of return (IOR) for high than for low-proficient bilinguals. In contrast, Hernandez, Costa, Fuentes, Vivas, and Sebastian-Galles (2010) failed to find any difference between bilinguals and monolinguals. We investigated the source of this discrepancy, while improving methodology by using a large sample composed of 100 Canadians, objective assessments of second language skills (Nelson-Denny Reading test), and controlling for nonverbal intelligence, age, sex, and video-gaming. Results were analyzed with self-report and objective measures of second language proficiency as well as dichotomous and continuous measures. Compared to less proficient bilinguals, highly proficient bilinguals tended to respond faster overall, hinting at an executive processing advantage. However, contrary to Mishra et al.’s findings, bilingual proficiency did not affect either the onset of IOR or magnitude of IOR. Résumé Au cours des dernières décennies, les avantages extralinguistiques du bilinguisme ont fait l’objet de vifs débats. L’étude actuelle visait à déterminer si le bilinguisme accélérait le désengagement attentionnel. Reflétant un désengagement plus rapide, Mishra, Hilchey, Singh, et Klein (2012) ont observé une manifestation plus hâtive de l’inhibition de retour (IOR) chez les bilingues moins compétents dans leur langue seconde. En revanche, Hernandez, Costa, Fuentes, Vivas et Sebastian-Galles (2010) n’ont pas réussi à trouver de différence entre les bilingues et les monolingues. Nous avons étudié l’origine de cette différence tout en améliorant la méthodologie au moyen d’un large échantillon composé de 100 Canadiens, d’évaluations objectives des compétences en langue seconde (test de lecture Nelson-Denny) et en contrôlant différents paramètres tels que l’intelligence non-verbale, l’âge, le sexe et l’utilisation de jeux vidéo. Les résultats ont été analysés au moyen d’auto-déclarations et de mesures objectives des compétences dans la langue seconde et des mesures en continu et dichotomiques. Par comparaison avec les bilingues moins compétents dans leur langue seconde, leurs semblables plus compétents avaient tendance à répondre plus rapidement dans l’ensemble, donnant à penser qu’ils avaient un avantage sur le plan du traitement exécutif. Or, contrairement aux constats de Mishra et al., le niveau de compétence dans la langue seconde n’avait pas de conséquences sur l’apparition de l’IOR ni sur l’ampleur de l’IOR.

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