Effects of language switching frequency on inhibitory control in bilingual preschool children: Different roles of expressive and receptive language abilities

Although research has indicated the contribution of bilinguals’ language switching frequency and language abilities to their inhibitory control, the mechanism of how they work together to influence inhibitory control is unclear. This study examined the moderating role of expressive and receptive language abilities on the relationship between language switching frequency and inhibitory control. Participants were 229 Uyghur-Mandarin bilingual preschoolers aged 4.5 to 6.5 years. They were individually tested on expressive language ability (ELA), receptive language ability (RLA), and inhibitory control. Their frequency of language switching was collected from parents’ and teachers’ reports. The results showed that language switching frequency was positively associated with inhibitory control in children with high Uyghur ELA and low Mandarin ELA, and vice versa. Moreover, language switching frequency was negatively associated with inhibitory control in children with both low Uyghur and Mandarin ELA, but not significantly associated with inhibitory control in children with both high Uyghur and Mandarin ELA. Additionally, this moderating effect of language abilities was not found in receptive language abilities. The significant moderating effect of ELA, but not RLA, suggests the active role of children in their early executive function development; this extends the current understanding of how and when language switching frequency impacts bilinguals’ inhibitory control.