Professor Dr. Elena Nicoladis

Biography

Elena Nicoladis is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus. Her research interests focus on bilingual language learning in children, including the use of gestures and the similarities and differences in language processing across cultures. She has contributed to the understanding of how bilingualism affects children's cognitive development, challenging common misconceptions that bilingualism confuses children. Nicoladis has studied how children are sensitive to iconicity in gestures, and her work has implications for the relationship between language and thought. Throughout her research career, she has developed robust arguments that support the notion that bilingualism can positively influence language development and cognitive processing in children.

Research Interests