Inhibit the current and prepare for the next: language preparation and contextual modulation in bilingual speech production

Recent studies have shown that bilingual language switching can be flexibly adapted by different linguistic environments. Here we set out to investigate whether language preparation can balance potential effects of different language contexts. Mandarin-English highly proficient bilinguals were asked to perform picture naming tasks with varying ratios of L1/L2 (L1-predominant and L2-predominant contexts) whilst being briefly cued for the upcoming target language (i.e. 250 ms). Our findings showed that the magnitude of switch cost was not influenced by a language context. This suggests that a short preparation time may allow bilingual speakers to engage the target language in advance; however, it does not eliminate asymmetrical switch costs. The persistence of asymmetry across contexts indicates that language switching remains constrained by language dominance, rather than being modulated by contextual factors alone. The current study highlights the role of preparation in bilingual speech production, while also demonstrating the limits of contextual influences on language control.