Modeling bilingualism as a dynamic phenomenon in healthy and neurologically affected speakers across the lifespan: A Commentary on “Computational Modeling of Bilingual Language Learning: Current Models and Future Directions”

Abstract

In their review article, Li and Xu offered an insightful overview of the contributions and limitations of computational models of bilingual language learning and processing to our current understanding of the bilingual mind. They further proposed joining cross-disciplinary efforts toward building a computational account that links cognitive theory and neurobiological accounts of bilingualism as part of their suggested future research agenda. We agree with Li and Xu’s suggestions and further propose that (a) the scope of computational models of bilingual language learning and processing should be expanded to include other perspectives: language learning context, maintenance, and decay of linguistic competence and bilingual language breakdown and that (b) existing modeling efforts already work toward addressing these areas, answering the proposed desiderata for good computational models.