LANGUAGES IN CONFLICT: MODELS FOR LEXICAL ACCESS BASED ON ORTOGRAPHIC INPUT IN BILINGUALS OR MULTILINGUALS AND THE EFFECT OF MULTILINGUALISM IN THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

Abstract The phenomenon of bilingualism is the essential premise for translation. This paper presents contemporary cognitive models for written word recognition, based on previous experimental work with interlingual homographs. We will discuss studies on language conflict between two or more languages, and how these findings provide support for the language non-selective hypothesis for lexical access, which elucidates the impact of bilingualism in the processes of reading and translation. As a secondary goal and with a neuroscientific perspective, we will also describe the changes in the brain and mental processes that underlie the experience of bilingualism and multilingualism. Studies discussed here demonstrate an advantage in executive function (updating, inhibition and mental flexibility) as well as structural and functional changes in circuits, especially involving the prefrontal cortices bilaterally. These changes have been indicated as important protective factors in different situations of neural loss.摘要 双语现象是翻译活动的核心前提。本研究基于跨语言同形异义词（interlingual homographs）的前期实验研究，提出了书面词汇识别的当代认知模型。本研究将探讨涉及两种及以上语言间语言冲突的相关研究，以及这些发现如何为词汇通达的语言非选择性假说（language non-selective hypothesis for lexical access）提供支撑，该假说阐明了双语现象在阅读与翻译过程中的作用机制。作为次要研究目标，本研究还将从神经科学视角出发，阐释双语及多语使用者的大脑与认知过程所发生的变化。本文所探讨的研究表明，双语使用者在执行功能（executive function，涵盖认知更新、抑制控制与心理灵活性）方面具备优势，同时其神经环路的结构与功能亦会发生改变，尤其体现在双侧前额叶皮层。已有研究表明，此类变化在多种神经损伤情境中均为重要的保护因素。