BILINGUALISM IN THE MODERN WORLD: HISTORY OF THE ISSUE AND CURRENT TRENDS

The article considers bilingualism as a multidimensional social and cognitive phenomenon that is formed in the historical and cultural environment in modern states. The authors analyse the evolution of bilingualism, stressing the change of motivations in the conditions of globalisation. Special attention is paid to cognitive, sociocultural and neuropsychological aspects of bilingualism, its impact on memory, attention and executive functions. The paper reviews both classical studies (G. Paul, E. Peal, W.E. Lambert) and modern empirical evidence (I.N. Katanova, E. Bialystok, A. Costa, F. Grojean, K. Baker and others) that confirm the positive impact of bilingual experiences on cognitive development and intercultural adaptation. These studies confirm that bilingualism improves executive function and attention, especially in children, and emphasise the importance of educational initiatives to support bilingualism. The paper summarises the significance of bilingualism in the modern world, its impact on cognitive abilities and social identity, and the prospects for further research in this area. The necessity of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of bilingualism, taking into account both linguistic and social-psychological factors, is substantiated.