An interplay of inhibitory and facilitative mechanisms during language control: evidence from phonetic-level language switching with a letter-naming task

• DOI: 10.1017/langcog.2025.7
• Publication Date: 2025-02-27T06:43:53Z
• Authors: Chang Yue; Yunsheng Chen; Yun Zhang; Yiling Zeng; Yong Zhang
• Keywords: Inhibitory control

Abstract Language control in the bilingual brain has remained limelight of research over past decades. However, mechanisms underlying language may be more intricate than typically assumed due to hierarchical nature language. This study aimed investigate dynamics at phonetic level. Participants, who were speakers Chinese, English and German, named letters alphabet (L2) or German (L3) following an alternating language-switching paradigm. Two sets selected, differing phonological similarity their pronunciation across two languages, thereby allowing exploration cross-language influences. Each participant completed sessions letter-naming tasks. In one session, seven phonologically similar randomly repeated either single-language blocks alternate-language blocks. other dissimilar similarly manipulated. The results indicated local inhibition, reflected by switch costs global mixing costs. Reversed dominance, another indicator was not observed. there a tendency for larger inhibition applied dominant Moreover, significantly faster naming compared ones, suggesting facilitation effect both irrespective whether letter occurred single- These findings provided evidence role inhibitory facilitative level, language-specific underscoring complexity managing multiple levels processing.