{"pk":49184,"title":"Blending Boundaries: A Computational Approach to How Bilinguals Reconcile Cross-Linguistic Categorization","subtitle":null,"abstract":"We categorize the world using labels that aid memory, recognition, and generalization. While some concepts have clear boundaries, others are more fluid, leading to cross-linguistic differences. How bilinguals manage these differences remains unclear. We investigate this by comparing English monolinguals, Mandarin monolinguals, and Mandarin-English bilinguals in a 2AFC task to test whether bilinguals' categorization aligns with monolingual norms or forms an integrated system. Additionally, we develop a neural network model to simulate category boundary formation under varying language exposure. Our model closely mirrors behavioral data, supporting the idea that bilinguals develop a shared categorization system shaped by dominant language exposure. This combined behavioral and computational approach offers new insights into how bilinguals resolve cross-linguistic conflict and the cognitive mechanisms underlying multilingual concept organization.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Papers with Oral Presentation","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/07t9r6vj","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Aditi","middle_name":"","last_name":"Singh","name_suffix":"","institution":"New York University","department":""},{"first_name":"Maya","middle_name":"","last_name":"Taliaferro","name_suffix":"","institution":"New York University","department":""},{"first_name":"Grace","middle_name":"","last_name":"Lindsay","name_suffix":"","institution":"New York University","department":""},{"first_name":"Esti","middle_name":"","last_name":"Blanco-Elorrieta","name_suffix":"","institution":"New York University","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"2025-01-01T12:00:00-06:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/cognitivesciencesociety/article/49184/galley/37145/download/"},{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/cognitivesciencesociety/article/49184/galley/38690/download/"}]}