A theoretically driven and empirically grounded calculation for language dominance and degree of multilingualism

• Chen, Xuanyi Jessica ^[1] ; Blanco-Elorrieta, Esti ^[1]
  1. [1] New York University
• Localización: Bilingualism: Language and cognition, ISSN 1366-7289, Vol. 29, Nº 4, 2026, págs. 1084-1090
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1017/s1366728925100849
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Bilingualism research has long been challenged by a lack of a unified approach to quantifying language dominance and degree of multilingualism. While numerous questionnaires (e.g., LHQ, BLP, LEAP‑Q, and LUQ) provide valuable data on language background variables, they lack a standardized formula to compute key measures from it. We introduce two formulas that synthesize critical linguistic variables to efficiently calculate language dominance and a multilingualism score that ranges from perfect monolingualism to native-like proficiency in multiple languages. Validation across two large datasets shows our dominance measure closely aligns with more complex PCA methods while being simpler and more efficient.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Amengual, M. (2016). The perception and production of language-specific mid-vowel contrasts: Shifting the focus to the bilingual individual...
  • Birdsong, D., Gertken, L., & Amengual, M. (2012). Bilingual language profile: An instrument for assessing bilingual dominance. Bilingualism:...
  • Blanco-Elorrieta, E., Ding, N., Pylkkänen, L., & Poeppel, D. (2020). Understanding requires tracking: Noise and knowledge interact in...
  • Blumenfeld, H. K., & Marian, V. (2013). Parallel language activation and cognitive control during spoken word recognition in bilinguals....
  • Bonvin, A., Brugger, L., & Berthele, R. (2023). Lexical measures as a proxy for bilingual language dominance? International Review of...
  • Chen, X. J., Marte, M. J., Kiran, S., & Blanco-Elorrieta, E. (2025). Evidence for an integrated bilingual language system from discourse...
  • Gálvez-McDonough, A. F., Blumenfeld, H. K., Barragán-Diaz, A., Anthony, J. J. R., & Riès, S. K. (2024). Influence of language dominance...
  • Gollan, T. H., Fennema-Notestine, C., Montoya, R. I., & Jernigan, T. L. (2007). The bilingual effect on Boston naming test performance....
  • Gollan, T. H., Weissberger, G. H., Runnqvist, E., Montoya, R. I., & Cera, C. M. (2012). Self-ratings of spoken language dominance: A multilingual...
  • Grant, A., & Dennis, N. (2017). Increased processing speed in young adult bilinguals: Evidence from source memory judgments. Bilingualism:...
  • Hakuta, K., Bialystok, E., & Wiley, E. (2003). Critical evidence: A test of the critical-period hypothesis for second-language acquisition....
  • Hartshorne, J. K., Tenenbaum, J. B., & Pinker, S. (2018). A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million...
  • Johnson, J. S., & Newport, E. L. (1989). Critical period effects in second language learning: The influence of maturational state on the...
  • Kastenbaum, J. G., Bedore, L. M., Peña, E. D., Sheng, L., Mavis, I., Sebastian-Vaytadden, R., … Kiran, S. (2019). The influence of proficiency...
  • Lemhöfer, K., Dijkstra, T., & Michel, M. (2004). Three languages, one ECHO: Cognate effects in trilingual word recognition. Language and...
  • Li, P., Zhang, F., Tsai, E., & Puls, B. (2014). Language history questionnaire (LHQ 3.0): Enhancing validity and reliability. Bilingualism:...
  • Luk, G., & Bialystok, E. (2013). Bilingualism is not a categorical variable: Interaction between language proficiency and usage. Journal...
  • Marian, V., Blumenfeld, H. K., & Kaushanskaya, M. (2007). The language experience and proficiency questionnaire (LEAP-Q): Assessing language...
  • Marte, M. J., Carpenter, E., Scimeca, M., Russell-Meill, M., Peñaloza, C., Grasemann, U., … Kiran, S. (2025). Machine learning predictions...
  • Mercier, J., Pivneva, I., & Titone, D. (2014). Individual differences in inhibitory control relate to bilingual spoken word processing....
  • Paap, K. R., & Greenberg, Z. I. (2013). There is no coherent evidence for a bilingual advantage in executive processing. Cognitive Psychology,...
  • Paradis, J., & Nicoladis, E. (2007). The influence of dominance and sociolinguistic context on bilingual preschoolers’ language choice....
  • Pienemann, M., Keßler, J. U., & Itani-Adams, Y. (2011). Comparing levels of processability across languages. International Journal of...
  • Robinson Anthony, J. J., & Blumenfeld, H. K. (2019). Language dominance predicts cognate effects and inhibitory control in young adult...
  • Sebastián-Gallés, N., Echeverría, S., & Bosch, L. (2005). The influence of initial exposure on lexical representation: Comparing early...
  • Titone, D., Libben, M., Mercier, J., Whitford, V., & Pivneva, I. (2011). Bilingual lexical access during L1 sentence reading: The effects...
  • Vanhove, J. (2013). The critical period hypothesis in second language acquisition: A statistical critique and a reanalysis. PLoS One, 8(7),...
  • Woodcock, R. W., Muñoz-Sandoval, A. F., Ruef, M. L., & Alvarado, C. G. (2005). Woodcock-Muñoz Language Survey, Revised, English and Spanish...