Research on bilingual language processing and how languages are represented in the mind

Abstract

Bilingual ability arises naturally in young children exposed to two languages, while second language learning among children and adults often results in bilingual ability as well. The study of bilingual language processing, by Nan Jiang (2023), goes beyond what the title announces to take up the related questions of how knowledge of two languages is represented. The study explores the nature of the underlying linguistic structures and how they interface with other cognitive domains. Thus, research on both aspects of bilingualism helps us better understand language development in general. This review essay will examine some of the broader implications for psychological science that the author suggests. The findings from the research are extensive, and the following discussion will propose the possibility of a partial convergence on questions that have been the subject of debate among specialists.