Should I focus on self-language actions or should I follow others? Cross-language interference effects in voluntary and cued language switching

Abstract

We examined whether and how language produced by others influences self-language processes. This study addressed this issue by looking at effects of comprehension on language switching in cued and voluntary switching contexts. During voluntary language switching, Chinese-English bilinguals were more likely to repeat the language they previously used themselves than to repeat the language produced by others. Furthermore, during both voluntary and cued language switching, bilinguals showed larger switch costs when switching between languages themselves than when switching after hearing another language. This suggests that cross-language interference may primarily stem from the self-language system rather than from language produced by others.

Keywords

• Bilingualism
• Language switching
• Self and other speech
• Cross-language interference
• Language production
• Language comprehension