Fine-tuning language discrimination: Bilingual and Monolingual infants’ detection of language switches

Abstract

The ability to differentiate between two languages sets the stage for bilingual learning. Infants can discriminate languages when hearing long passages, but language switches often occur on short time scales with few cues to language identity. As bilingual infants begin learning sequences of sounds and words, how do they detect the dynamics of two languages? In two studies using the head-turn preference procedure, we investigated whether infants (n = 44) can discriminate languages at the level of individual words. In Study 1, monolingual and bilingual 8- to 12-month-olds were tested on their detection of single-word language switching in lists of words (e.g., “dog… lait [fr. milk]”). In Study 2, they were tested on language switching within sentences (e.g., “Do you like the lait?”). Infants detected language switching within sentences, but not in lists of words. Moreover, there was no difference between bilingual and monolingual infants’ performance. Based on these contrasting effects for natural sentences versus lists of words, we conclude that infants may detect language switches more successfully if preceded by sequences of sounds and words in a single language. The ability to detect disruptions in such sequences is likely important in supporting the beginnings of bilingual proficiency.

Code-switching in parents’ everyday speech to bilingual infants

“…However, parents' self-reported frequency of code-switching may not reflect their actual frequency of code-switching (Bail et al, 2015). Additionally, when comparing parents' self-reported code-switching to their child's performance on language tasks, no relationship between the two measures has been observed (Place & Hoff, 2016;Schott, Mastroberardino, Fourakis, Lew-Williams & Byers-Heinlein, 2020). This indicates that while self-report is time-efficient, parents may not be consciously aware of how much they code-switch, meaning this measure could be inaccurate.…”

Keeping track of language: Can monolingual and bilingual infants associate a speaker with the language they speak?

“…A recent study found that infants did not discriminate between English and French when hearing single words that were either in a single language (dog… milk) or alternated between languages (dog... lait [fr. milk], Schott et al, 2021). Whereas in a looking while listening task, 20-months-olds did notice when the language switched between English and French (e.g., Byers-Heinlein et al, 2017).…”

Keeping track of language: Can monolingual and bilingual infants associate a speaker with the language they speak?

“…milk], Schott et al, 2021). Whereas in a looking while listening task, 20-months-olds did notice when the language switched between English and French (e.g., Byers-Heinlein et al, 2017).…”