Reversed asymmetrical switch costs in voluntary language switching: Evidence from typed responses

Abstract

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

Prior research has put forward that asymmetrical switch costs in language switching do not occur when bilinguals are in a voluntary language-switching context. While several studies have provided evidence along these lines, two very recent studies have put this into question. This study further investigates the possibility that voluntary language switching abolishes asymmetrical switch costs.

Design/methodology/approach:

We presented German-English bilinguals (n = 79) with pictures that had to be named in either German or English, whichever they chose, by typing.

Data and analysis:

Reaction times (both the latency of the first keystroke and interkeystroke intervals) were analyzed using linear mixed-effects regression modeling with the factors Trial type (switch vs. repetition trial) and Language (German vs. English), whereas the error rates were analyzed using logistic mixed-effects regression modeling.

Findings/conclusions:

The onset latencies and inter-keystroke intervals both showed larger second-language (English) than first-language (German) switch costs (i.e., reversed asymmetrical switch costs). As switch costs were modulated by language dominance in a voluntary language-switching context, this study provides evidence that voluntary language switching is not a boundary condition for asymmetrical switch costs.

Originality:

In contrast to most previous language-switching studies, we used typed rather than vocal responses in a voluntary language-switching paradigm. In addition, our findings further support and generalize very recent findings of (reversed) asymmetrical switch costs in voluntary language switching.

Significance/implications:

Since asymmetrical switch costs, an important measure of bilingual inhibitory control, are not consistently observed throughout the language-switching literature, it is essential to understand its boundary conditions.