Culture cues facilitate object naming in both native and second language: evidence from Bodo–Assamese bilinguals

Abstract

We examined if iconic cultural images that are related to a bicultural bilingual’s native and second language modulate lexical access during object naming. Bodo–Assamese bilinguals named line drawings preceded by a picture belonging to one of the cultures (Bodo or Assamese). Speakers named in blocks in which the cultural image was congruent, incongruent or neutral with the language used for naming. The cultural images were, however, irrelevant to the main task. Results showed that cultural images facilitated naming in both languages compared to neutral images. There was no difference in the extent of facilitation between the languages. Our findings suggest that iconic cultural images boost lexical access in both languages of bilinguals and facilitate naming.