ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies the impact of bilingualism on lexical function. One corollary of the proposition that there are no language-specific lexical systems is that semantic priming should also be language-independent. The analysis of bilingualism has implications for general cognitive function. The data summarized here are consistent with the proposition that there is a division between input and central processes. The monolingual data for morphological priming may be used to establish a range within which cognate priming values should fall if they are subject to the same morphological considerations. The chapter presents lexical representation in bilinguals is governed by morphology rather than language. It also presents lexical representations may be defined in terms of the operations brought to bear on the stimulus input. The chapter shows the mapping relationships between alternative forms of representation may provide the basis for a unified theory of perceptual categorization and memory.
