Effect of Language Switching On the Response Latency in the Cued Picture-Naming Paradigm among Hindi Dominant and Balanced Bilinguals

Language dominance has long been considered an important factor in determining the processing time associated with language switching. It is evident that when an unbalanced bilingual switch from ones non-dominant to dominant language (backward switching), s/he requires more reaction time in comparison to when s/he switches from dominant language to non-dominant language (forward switching). In this study, the researcher examined the effects of language dominance and switching on the response time in the cued picture-naming paradigm. Results indicate that the overall response time required by balanced bilingual is less than that of Hindi dominant bilinguals. It was also found that, Hindi dominant required more reaction time in backward switching in comparison to forward switching. For balanced bilinguals, the difference between forward and backward switching was not found to be significant. The results of this study have been discussed in light of the concept of ‘reactive inhibition’ of the Inhibitory Control Model (ICM).