ABSTRACT
Research on bilingualism suggests that the context of second language acquisition may be a relevant index of differences in language processing and, possibly, in patterns of brain lateralization for language both between bilingual subgroups, and between bilinguals and monolinguals. This chapter discusses the three case studies on aging bilingual. Clyne, 1977 case report of an elderly German/English bilingual woman whose proficiency in her second language declined in later age, her English showing increasing traces of first language accent and words. The study conducted by Martin Albert and Loraine Obler, 1978 as part of larger project on the neuropsychology of bilingualism. The only other study of language in elderly bilinguals that they could find was that of Bergman, 1980. The language tests were selected to tap a broad range of language capabilities which are thought to remain stable over age. The visuospatial tests were included to provide information about possible non-language changes in cognitive functioning associated with bilingualism.
