Research Article

Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks

Number: 3 June 25, 2026
TR EN

Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines the effects of bilingual experience and age of acquisition on executive control and lexical performance in the dominant language. A total of 23 adults participated, including early bilinguals (Kurdish/Arabic–Turkish), late bilinguals (Turkish–English), and Turkish monolinguals.  Method: Participants completed a color-naming Stroop task to assess inhibitory control and a vocabulary task in Turkish to measure lexical retrieval. Findings: Non-parametric analyses revealed that early bilinguals significantly outperformed both late bilinguals and monolinguals in the incongruent condition of the Stroop task, indicating enhanced executive control. In contrast, no significant differences were found among the three groups in vocabulary performance in Turkish. Conclusion: These findings suggest that early and sustained bilingual exposure may confer advantages in executive functioning, whereas lexical performance in the dominant language appears less sensitive to bilingual experience under conditions of similar language exposure. The study highlights the critical role of age of acquisition and language exposure in shaping cognitive outcomes of bilingualism, while also underscoring the need for further research with larger samples and multiple measures. 

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

This research was conducted with the permission of the Marmara University Institute of Educational Sciences Research and Publication Ethics Committee decision dated 04/08/2025 and numbered 08-21. Participants were informed about the research and informed consent was obtained from the participants.

Thanks

None

References

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  2. Allman, B. (2005). Vocabulary size and accuracy of monolingual and bilingual preschool children. In J. Cohen, K. T. McAlister, K. Rolstad, & J. MacSwan (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Bilingualism (pp. 58–77). Cascadilla Press.
  3. Bialystok, E., & Craik, F. I. M. (2010). Cognitive and linguistic processing in the bilingual mind. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 19–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721409358571
  4. Bialystok, E., Craik, F. I. M., & Ryan, J. (2006). Executive control in a modified anti-saccade task: Effects of aging and bilingualism. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 32, 1341–1354. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.32.6.1341
  5. Bialystok, E., & Viswanathan, M. (2009). Components of executive control with advantages for bilingual children in two cultures. Cognition, 112, 494–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2009.06.014
  6. Bialystok, E., & Codd, J. (1997). Cardinal limits: Evidence from language awareness and bilingualism for developing concepts of number. Cognitive Development, 12, 85–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0885-2014(97)90031-9
  7. Bialystok, E. (1999). Cognitive complexity and attentional control in the bilingual mind. Child Development, 70, 636–644. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00046
  8. Bialystok, E. (2001). Bilingualism in development: Language, literacy, and cognition. Cambridge University Press.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics, Linguistics (Other), Education Planning, Other Fields of Education (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 25, 2026

Submission Date

January 10, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 12, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 3

APA
Kurt, Y. (2026). Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, 3, 1186-1199. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1860526
AMA
1.Kurt Y. Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks. BUEFAD. 2026;(3):1186-1199. doi:10.14686/buefad.1860526
Chicago
Kurt, Yavuz. 2026. “Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, nos. 3: 1186-99. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1860526.
EndNote
Kurt Y (June 1, 2026) Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education 3 1186–1199.
IEEE
[1]Y. Kurt, “Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks”, BUEFAD, no. 3, pp. 1186–1199, June 2026, doi: 10.14686/buefad.1860526.
ISNAD
Kurt, Yavuz. “Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education. 3 (June 1, 2026): 1186-1199. https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1860526.
JAMA
1.Kurt Y. Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks. BUEFAD. 2026;:1186–1199.
MLA
Kurt, Yavuz. “Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks”. Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education, no. 3, June 2026, pp. 1186-99, doi:10.14686/buefad.1860526.
Vancouver
1.Yavuz Kurt. Cognitive Performance in the Dominant Language: A Comparison of Bilingual and Monolingual Adults on Executive and Lexical Tasks. BUEFAD. 2026 Jun. 1;(3):1186-99. doi:10.14686/buefad.1860526

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Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education