The “Bilingual Paradox” Explained: A Review Paper.

The present paper aims at analysing the so-called “bilingual paradox”, providing an insight into the phenomenon by comparing and contrasting the most relevant empirical research which examine the cognitive costs and benefits of bilingualism. Specifically, it takes into account different historical phases and perspectives of study, highlighting the effects of the bilingual experience on cognitive skills and Executive Functions (EFs) in verbal and non-verbal domains. A particular focus is placed on the difference between two cognitive components, i.e. analysis of representation and control of attention, to better understand and define the positive and negative effects of bilingualism. Indeed, current studies have highlighted the importance of considering the joint relationship between different aspects of cognition, for they are affected by the bilingual experience in different ways and lead to different outcomes in linguistic and non-linguistic tasks.