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Multilingualism

The document discusses multilingualism and provides several key points: 1. Multilingualism refers to the ability to express oneself in multiple languages proficiently. However, proficiency is usually higher in one language compared to others in multilingual contexts. 2. Multilingualism can exist at the individual level or societal level, with languages taking official, unofficial, native, or foreign statuses. 3. Reasons for multilingualism include choice/interest in language, geography in regions with multiple language groups, migration to a new country, and religious/professional reasons where certain languages are considered holy. 4. Common myths about raising multilingual children are debunked, such as the ideas

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157 views5 pages

Multilingualism

The document discusses multilingualism and provides several key points: 1. Multilingualism refers to the ability to express oneself in multiple languages proficiently. However, proficiency is usually higher in one language compared to others in multilingual contexts. 2. Multilingualism can exist at the individual level or societal level, with languages taking official, unofficial, native, or foreign statuses. 3. Reasons for multilingualism include choice/interest in language, geography in regions with multiple language groups, migration to a new country, and religious/professional reasons where certain languages are considered holy. 4. Common myths about raising multilingual children are debunked, such as the ideas

Uploaded by

Helen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Multilingualism:

The term multilingualism is derived from two Latin words namely


“multi” that means many and “lingua” that means language. Thus,
multilingualism is referred to as the ability of a speaker to express
himself or herself in several languages with equal and native like
proficiency. However, it has been realized in both the written and verbal
communicative practices that proficiency in one language usually tends
to dominate in a multilingual set up as compared to the others.
Multilingualism can also be regarded as the co-existence of several
languages within a society. These several languages can be official or
unofficial, native or foreign and national or international. Now not
everyone who can speak in several languages can called a multilingual
person but their name changes based on the number of the languages
that a person knows for instance a person who is able to speak in two
languages is called a bilingual person and a person who is able to speak
in three languages is called trilingual while a person who is able to speak
in more than three languages is called multilingual and the most rare one
is polyglot when someone with a high degree of proficiency in five or
more languages.

Reasons behind multilingualism:


1. Choice:
Of course, sometimes becoming multilingual is purely motivated by
an interest in languages. This is my case. I became fascinated by
words and language at a young age and started studying other
languages in school. I continue to learn as much as I can about
language and acquire as many language skills as I can for purely
selfish, and intellectual reasons.
2. Geography:
The choice is a relatively uncommon reason for becoming
multilingual, however. Geography plays a bigger role, worldwide. In
many areas of the world small regions are home to several disparate
groups speaking different languages, and being able to function in
daily life often means having to learn a second or third language.

3. Migration:
Obviously, when you move to another country altogether, you will
have to learn to speak the dominant language of that country if you
want to take part in society. Migration accounts for a very large
proportion of multilinguals, in fact, though many of them do not
become fluent so much as simply capable in their adopted language,
and still use their native language at home.

4. Religious or Professional Reasons:


Some religions regard their traditional language to be holy, and even
when they are practices in new areas or when the original language
has fallen into disuse, those seeking to pursue religious studies must
still learn the holy language.
Myths about Multilingualism for Children:

Myth: Exposing children to many languages causes speech and learning


delays
Developmental milestones are the same across languages. Further, kids
who are exposed to one language or more languages say their first words
by 1 year of age. Additionally, kids learn to combine words and talk in 2
words by 2 years of age. A multilingual child can frame two-word
combinations using two or more languages that he/she knows. For
example, he/she may say “car - ‫( ”سيارة‬English + Arabic). So, this is
normal and not deviant speech. Furthermore, a child’s brain plasticity is
very high and it enables them to learn many languages. Unlike an adult’s
brain. So, don’t worry! Overall, exposing your child to many languages
can never cause a speech delay.

Myth: Learning many languages confuses a child!


Of course not! When a child is below 4 years of age and is learning
multiple languages, he/she can mix the grammar rules of languages.
However, by 4 years your child will learn to separate the grammar rules
of individual languages. So, initially, you may think your child is
confused but it is not so. So, it is normal for toddlers to mix grammar
rules if exposed to many languages.
Myth: Multilingual children will always mix languages while speaking
When a toddler is learning languages, it is normal for them to mix codes
and talk. However, as the child grows, they become fluent and do not
always mix languages while speaking. Further, when they become
adults, depending on the situation they may mix or talk in a single
language.

Myth: Being Multilingual slows academic performance.


Learning two or more languages can boost your brain’s performance.
Further, critical brain differences are noted in multilingual. Hence,
exposing your child to multiple languages is beneficial.

Myth: A child can never be fluent in multiple languages.


This depends on the child. Multilingual can be fluent across languages.
Further, sometimes one language may dominate the other. But this does
not mean that one cannot be fluent in two or more languages.
References:
1. https://www.google.com/url?
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/
fulltext/
EJ1053855.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwihqNiTt_b9AhX6RPEDHd
WPA08QFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2YFykEw7ut-
shWFXk0m7p7
2. https://www.getblend.com/blog/being-bilingual

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