The Influence of Bilingualism on Cognition and Third Language Acquisition By Radmila Palinkašević, Mihailo Palov Preschool Teacher Training College, Vršac, Serbia Abstract: The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly to explore how bilingualism influences cognition and secondly how it influences the third language learning process. Some of the most prominent advantages of bilingualism on cognition were explored such as higher level of metacognition, inhibitory control, task switching etc. together with the most significant disadvantages to form a comprehensive view of the issue. The effects on third language acquisition were explored with a slight emphasis on cross-linguistic influence and transfer. In order to understand why bilingualism can have such diverse effects the factors that influence the development of bilingualism were also explored. Key words: bilingualism, acquisition, cross-linguistic influence, cognitive advantages, transfer; Apstrakt: Ovaj članak se bavi odgovorom na dva pitanja gde je prvo kako bilingvizam utiče na kogniciju a drugo kako utiče na usvajanje trećeg stranog jezika. Istražene su neki od najznačajnijih pozitivnih uticaja bilingvizma na kogniciju kao što su viši nivo metakognicije, brzo menjanje zadataka itd. Takođe su istraženi i negativni uticaji bilingvizma. Pri razmatranju uticaja bilingvizma na usvajanje trećeg stranog jezika blag je naglasak stavljen na međujezički uticaj i transfer. Razmotreni su i faktori koji utiču na razvoj bilingvizma i kognitivnih prednosti. Ključne reči: bilingvizam, usvajanje, međujezički uticaj, kognitivne prednosti, transfer; Introduction In the 21st century where knowledge is the most valuable commodity the importance of language is even more prominent. It is no longer enough to know only one language to be a successful and integrated individual in today’s society. Bilingualism and multilingualism is no longer considered a rare phenomenon, there are actually more bilingual and multilingual speakers in the world than monolinguals. According to the Ethnologue (2009) more than 7000 languages are spoken in 149 countries. In such a linguistic environment multilingualism and bilingualism are inevitable. Furthermore David Cristal (2003:69) estimates that two thirds of the world’s children grow up in a multilingual environment. Consequently research on bilingualism and multilingualism has dramatically increased in the last few years in quantity, quality and breadth (T. K. Bhatia 2013). Therefor this article aims to explain how this omnipresent phenomenon influences cognition and even more relevant for teachers how it influences the acquisition of a third language. The influence of bilingualism on cognition Bilingualism is a phenomenon which has always provoked a strong response. Our understanding of bilingualism and its effects has colossally changed over the years. From the 1