Definitions of bilingualism
Bilingualism means using two
languages, not necessarily with
equal proficiency.
For a start, we need to recognize
that bilingualism is a complex
cognitive and linguistic
phenomenon, which may vary
widely among individuals, and even
within individuals with respect to
their competence in the languages
concerned. A bilingual person may
be able to:
• speak, read, and write
fluently in two languages –
that is, they are biliterate .
• speak, read, and write in one
language, but only speak
another
• speak, read, and write in one
language, but understand to
some extent what is said in
another language – that is,
they can understand what a
speaker of their second
language is saying, even
though they may not be
confident about speaking
that language. (This is
termed passive
bilingualism .)
Is bilingualism an
advantage?
• To date, more than 150
major research studies
confirm the cognitive
advantages of
bilingualism.
• These studies have found
that bilingual students in
additive bilingual contexts
consistently outperform
monolingual students in
four key areas of thinking:
cognitive flexibility,
metalinguistic awareness,
communicative sensitivity,
and field independence.
• Bilingualism also provides
a wide range of other
social, cultural,
employment, and
economic advantages
1. Cognitive flexibility
There are two key areas related
to cognitive flexibility. One is
divergent thinking . This is often
measured by providing a person
with a starting point for thought
and asking them to generate a
whole series of permissible
solutions. (For example, “Think
of a paper clip and tell me all
the things you could do with it.”)
The other area is convergent
thinking , which is measured by
tests that provide a number of
pieces of information a person
must synthesise to arrive at the
correct answer. Researchers
report that bilingual people are
consistently superior to their
monolingual counterparts in
both divergent and convergent person increased sensitivity to
thinking tests. the social nature and
communicative functions of
2. Metalinguistic language.
awareness
4. Field independence
Metalinguistic awareness (MA) is
the ability to analyse language, Field independence is the visual
particularly language forms, in ability to see an overall pattern
terms of how they work and how as well as its component parts.
they are integrated into the wider As children grow to maturity,
language system. (See the video they become more field
clip Metalinguistic awareness for independent. Bilingual students
examples of this process.) MA is, in tend to be more field
effect, knowledge about language. independent at a younger age.
It can be demonstrated at various
levels: Phonological awareness (the Other advantages of
understanding of sound units), bilingualism
word awareness, and syntactic
(grammatical) awareness. Bilingual As well as the many cognitive
students may have greater MA benefits of bilingualism, there
because, in working with more than are also more wide-ranging
one language simultaneously, they advantages:
need to have a greater awareness
of how each language works and of • Bilingual people can
communicate with a wider
how the two languages are both
range of people within
similar and, crucially, different.
families and communities,
This, in turn, requires them to think across generations, and in
about the language they choose to other social contexts.
use. • Being able to read and write
in more than one language
3. Communicative sensitivity opens up new literatures,
traditions, and ideas to
Communicative sensitivity relates bilingual students.
to participants’ level of awareness • Being bilingual, and being
exposed to two languages
about what is going on in any
and cultures, often fosters
particular language interaction. greater tolerance for other
Bilingual people tend to be more cultural groups.
communicatively aware because • Knowing two languages
they are used to thinking about makes it easier to learn
which language to use in which additional languages.
situation and to which person. They • Knowing two languages
also have to pick up clues and cues provides bilingual people
about when to switch languages. with additional skills in the
The research literature suggests employment market – skills
that this may give a bilingual that are increasingly
 important in our globalised
world.
• When bilingual learners also
become biliterate (that is, able
to read and write well in two
languages), they are known to
achieve extremely well in
education, often better than
their monolingual peers.