Dr Neil W. Kirk — Abertay University
Previous language switching studies with “bidialectal” speakers of closely related language varieties has revealed evidence for very similar language control processes as used by more traditionally recognised bilinguals. In this registered report study, we extended this investigation to determine whether speakers of (Scottish Standard) English and Dundonian Scots also displayed a mixing benefit as has been found for bilinguals when they can mix their languages freely. Using an online voluntary language switching paradigm, participants were cued to use one language variety at a time (i.e. naming pictures of objects in English only, and Dundonian only) and were also given blocks in which they could freely name the objects in either variety. While previous research has revealed faster picture naming for bilinguals in the voluntary vs cued language blocks, this was not the case for “bidialectals”. This suggests that the language control processes used by these speakers is not entirely similar to those used by bilinguals. In this talk, I will also discuss the strategies and experiences of using the media to recruit these participants whose language experiences would not be captured by traditional recruitment platforms.
