Skip to main content
Journal cover image

An intricate relationship between executive function and second-language ability in a cohort of Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chen, J; Kwok, SC; Song, Y
Published in: Developmental science
March 2023

The relationship between executive function and second-language ability remains contentious in bilingual children; thus, the current study focused on this issue. In total, 371 Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children ranging from 3 to 6 years old were assessed by a battery of tasks measuring language ability (expressive vocabulary tests, receptive vocabulary tests, and phonological awareness of both their first-language and second-language) and executive function (working memory, inhibition, and switching). Our results indicated that age is a crucial moderator of the relationship between second-language ability and executive function. Specifically, executive function unilaterally predicted second-language ability in children who were 3-4 years old, whereas second-language ability and executive function bilaterally influenced each other in children who were 4-5 and 5-6 years old. These findings suggest that executive function and second-language ability have an intertwined and causal relationship among preschool children during development. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A counterfactual model showed causality between executive function and second language ability in Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children. Executive function unilaterally predicted second language ability in the 3- to 4-year-old age group. Executive function and second language ability bilaterally influenced each other in the 4- to 5 and 5- to 6-year-old age groups.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Developmental science

DOI

EISSN

1467-7687

ISSN

1363-755X

Publication Date

March 2023

Volume

26

Issue

2

Start / End Page

e13312

Related Subject Headings

  • Vocabulary
  • Multilingualism
  • Language
  • Humans
  • Executive Function
  • East Asian People
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Cognition
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Chen, J., Kwok, S. C., & Song, Y. (2023). An intricate relationship between executive function and second-language ability in a cohort of Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children. Developmental Science, 26(2), e13312. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13312
Chen, Jin, Sze Chai Kwok, and Yongning Song. “An intricate relationship between executive function and second-language ability in a cohort of Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children.Developmental Science 26, no. 2 (March 2023): e13312. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13312.
Chen, Jin, et al. “An intricate relationship between executive function and second-language ability in a cohort of Uyghur-Chinese bilingual children.Developmental Science, vol. 26, no. 2, Mar. 2023, p. e13312. Epmc, doi:10.1111/desc.13312.
Journal cover image

Published In

Developmental science

DOI

EISSN

1467-7687

ISSN

1363-755X

Publication Date

March 2023

Volume

26

Issue

2

Start / End Page

e13312

Related Subject Headings

  • Vocabulary
  • Multilingualism
  • Language
  • Humans
  • Executive Function
  • East Asian People
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Cognition
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child