Journal Article

Monolingual comparative normativity in bilingualism research is out of “control”: Arguments and alternatives

Hao, Jiuzhou, Kolb, Nadine, Kupisch, Tanja, van Osch, Brechje, Bayram, Fatih, Di Pisa, Grazia, DeLuca, Vincent, Tat, Deniz, Luque, Alicia, Duñabeitia, Jon Andoni, Wulff, Stefanie, Tomić, Aleksandra, Kubota, Maki, Prystauka, Yanina, Voits, Toms, Laméris, Tim, Pereira Soares, Sergio Miguel, Rothman, Jason, Gharibi, Khadij

2023

Overview

Herein, we contextualize, problematize, and offer some insights for moving beyond the problem of monolingual comparative normativity in (psycho) linguistic research on bilingualism. We argue that, in the vast majority of cases, juxtaposing (functional) monolinguals to bilinguals fails to offer what the comparison is supposedly intended to do: meet the standards of empirical control in line with the scientific method. Instead, the default nature of monolingual comparative normativity has historically contributed to inequalities in many facets of bilingualism research and continues to impede progress on multiple levels. Beyond framing our views on the matter, we offer some epistemological considerations and methodological alternatives to this standard practice that improve empirical rigor while fostering increased diversity, inclusivity, and equity in our field.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Bilingual people / Bilingualism / Clinical trials / Cognitive Psychology / Confounding (Statistics) / Control Groups / Effect Size / Empiricism / Epistemology / Heritage language / Inequality / Intervening variables / Language / Language Impairments / Linguistics / Monolingualism / Multilingualism / Native Speakers / Norms / Original Article / Psycholinguistics / Qualitative research / Science / Scientific method / Scientific Methodology / Social sciences / Towards a Just and Equitable Applied Psycholinguistics