华东师范大学学报(教育科学版) ›› 2016, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (1): 90-97.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2016.01.013

• 教育心理学 • 上一篇    下一篇

第二语言学习的利与弊:语言与认知的角度

王瑞明,焦鲁,程小月,刘聪   

  1. 华南师范大学心理学院/心理应用研究中心;北京大学心理学系
  • 出版日期:2016-03-15 发布日期:2016-03-31
  • 通讯作者: 王瑞明,焦鲁,程小月,刘聪
  • 作者简介:王瑞明,焦鲁,程小月,刘聪
  • 基金资助:

    国家社会科学基金教育学项目(CBA130125)

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Second Language Learning:From the Perspective of Cognition and Language

WANG Rui-Ming,JIAO Lu,CHENG Xiao-Yue,LIU Cong   

  1. 1. Center for studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; 2. Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • Online:2016-03-15 Published:2016-03-31
  • Contact: WANG Rui-Ming,JIAO Lu,CHENG Xiao-Yue,LIU Cong
  • About author:WANG Rui-Ming,JIAO Lu,CHENG Xiao-Yue,LIU Cong

摘要: 随着国际交流的日益加深,第二语言学习得到愈来愈多的重视。从个体语言学习与认知发展的角度来看,第二语言学习既有一定的积极作用,也有一定的消极作用。在第二语言学习的积极作用方面,大量的实验数据证明了双语者在执行功能方面表现出优势,但是也有部分研究者提出了不同观点。在第二语言学习的消极影响方面,很多研究发现双语者存在词汇通达劣势,但是也有部分研究者认为这种影响是暂时的,甚至双语者的某些语言能力还会好于单语者。在未来的研究中,研究者不仅要加强第二语言学习利与弊的系统研究,探讨第二语言学习利与弊的发展轨迹和内在机制,而且应该尝试使用因果设计更直接地探讨第二语言学习对个体语言与认知发展的影响。

Abstract:       Second language learning is becoming increasing important with the deepening international communication. Considering the close relationship between language and cognition, the influence of second language learning on cognitive development has always been a major interest to researchers in different fields. But most previous researches centered on the positive effect of bilingualism, neglecting the negative effect of second language learning and other controversial views. From the perspective of language and cognition, this paper is intended to summarize the influence of second language learning on cognition, focusing on the advantages in executive control and the disadvantages in lexical access. Also, the paper provides a brief review of some competing opinions on the issue.       The positive effect of second language learning was mainly reflected in the nonverbal cognitive abilities, especially in the executive function. Executive function refers to a collection of topdown mental processes used consciously, with switching, inhibition and working memory as its three core components. A growing body of research demonstrated the effect of bilingual cognitive advantage, since bilinguals have more opportunities to practice the switch to the appropriate language and inhibition of the nontarget language in different situation. Furthermore, lots of studies argued that the lifelong bilingual experience significantly delayed the onset of Alzheimer disease, and maintained the neural efficiency for executive control in aging. However, not all relevant studies identified such positive effect in bilinguals. These researchers proposed that the positive effect may not come from language learning experience but from some confounding factors, such as immigrant status or socioeconomic status.       Regarding the negative effect of second language learning, there was a general agreement that the bilingual shown poorer performance in the lexical access, with the increasing reaction time in picture naming task, since the bilingual have to cope with nontarget language interference. Recently, more researchers were interested in other aspects of accessing performance, including sublexical, noun phrase and sentence. The results also indicated that the second language learners showed a poorer performance in accessing tasks. Similarly, there was still a controversy. Some researcher who focused on the metalinguistic ability pointed out that the learning experience promoted the development of metalinguistic ability in bilingual children.       Finally this paper presents further investigation about the influence of second language learning on cognition processing. First, both bilingual advantages and disadvantages should be investigated more systematically, such as measuring different executive function components in the same participant group. In addition, different age stages of bilinguals should be paid attention to study the trajectory of the positive and negative effect. What’s more, the development of cognitive neuroscience technologies can help explore the intrinsic mechanism of bilingual cognitive effect. Also, more longitudinal designs should be adopted to study the causes of positive and negative effects, and strictly exclude the interference effect from confounding factors.