The Psychology of Bilingualism: A Conversation with Ellen Bialystok

Description

This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Ellen Bialystok, Professor of Psychology at York University. Ellen Bialystok is a world-leading expert on the effects of bilingualism on cognitive processes across our lifespan. This conversation examines how she discovered differences in the development of essential cognitive and language abilities for bilingual children, the use of different brain networks by monolingual and bilingual young adults performing simple conflict tasks, and the postponement of symptoms of dementia in bilingual older adults, and many more fascinating aspects of bilingualism. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, The Plastic Revolution, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: Focusing on Bilingualism - From pedagogy to battling stereotypes Becoming Scientific - Inklings of plasticity Out of the Minds of Babes - Focusing attention from the earliest moments Differences and Definitions - Statistically significant results, and defining bilingualism Multitasking and Focusing - Real-world applications of bilingualism's advantages In the Brain - What's happening inside The Art of Measurement - The power of fMRI Bilingualism, Extended - The challenge of isolating relevant factors Bilingualism and Dementia - Surprising results and current puzzles Public Policy Implications - The societal benefits of bilingualism Open Questions and Speculations - Ongoing mysteries and the problem with projections About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series (100 books): Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. Howard Burton holds a PhD in physics and an MA in philosophy, and was the Founding Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.