Chapter 11. Bilingual language control during conversation

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss a hierarchical model of bilingual language control and attentional/control states during conversations. Conversations necessitate a close interchange between language control and understanding other’s state of mind. Here we explore another fundamental aspect of language use that requires different attentional states: in their speech acts, speakers talk about different topics. Using a hierarchical control framework, we describe the attentional control demands of the various interactional contexts and the attentional states induced by different types of topics nested within the sustained attentional demand to the conversation. We also consider aspects of neural networks involved in language use, specifically the involvement of frontal-subcortical regions during utterance planning and production. Lastly, we discuss future directions of research methods needed to explore bilingual control processes during conversation. Through this exploration into everyday conversations in different interactional contexts, we conclude that the mind/brain can be in several co-occurring and dissociable attentional/control states: ones induced through specific content and others induced by language control processes.