Instructors: Dr. Somdev Kar and Dr. K.K.

Chaudhary

A Presentation by:
Sajeed Mahaboob
2011ME1111
27-06-2014 1
 Introduction

What does it mean by being…

Monolingual?

Bilingual?

Multilingual?
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 Introduction


75% of the world’s population speaks two or
moer languages.
 Not all bilinguals speak two languages at the
same
level.
 In India, school children may routinely learn multiple
languages based on where they reside in the
country.
 By the age of 2.5 years, a bilingual child begins
to make choices in language use, usually the
majority language
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 Parents who want their children to retain their heritage
 Types of Multilingualism


Learning
Additi
ve: of the second language does not interfere with first
language.

English speakers in QUEBEC often learn French to upgrade

business skills.

 Subtractive:
Learning of second language does interfere (replaces) with
first language.

Successive US immigrant generations eventually become

monolingual English speakers.
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Importance of being multilingual
nowadays…


 T o l e r a n c e & respect towards other
 P e r s o n a l growth
cultures
 J o b Mobility
 A b r o a d Study
 B r o a d e n s employment opportunities
 I n c r e a s e s vocabulary & effectiveness of
speech
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 Ways of Acquisition

Successive

Sequential

Receptive
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 Ways of Acquisition

 Successive Bilingualism
Learning one language after already knowing another.

 Simultaneous Bilingualism:
Learning two languages as “first language”.

 Receptive Bilingualism:
Having the ability to understand a second language but not
speaking it or not being able to speak it due to psychological
barriers.

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 

• Most bilinguals are consecutive.

• No two bilinguals are alike.

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 

• Studies have shown that features of L1

can have a powerful influence on L2.

• L1 “transfer” can be positive or negative.

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 
 Studies examining true simultaneous bilinguals are
rare.

 Brain imaging studies show a spread in activation

across left and right hemispheres.

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 Context of Bilingual Language
Acquisition

 P r i m a r y context/Natural
Bilingualism
 S e c o n d a r y context / school
bilingualism
 N a t u r a l i s t i c fused setting
 N a t u r a l i s t i c separate setting
 E l e c t i v e bilinguals
 C i r c u m s t a n t i a l bilinguals
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 Degrees of Bilingualism

 B a l a n c e d Bilinguals
 D o m i n a n t Bilinguals
 P a s s i v e or Recessive Bilinguals
 S e m i - l i n g u a l or Limited
Bilinguals

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 Balanced Bilinguals

 Fully competent in both
languages.

- Almost impossible to achieve

-Sociolinguistic forces demand that bilinguals

organize their languages in functionally
complementary spheres. No society needs two
languages to perform the same set of functions.

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 Dominant Bilinguals

 Individuals who are dominant in other
language.

-Less dominant language = Subordinate

-Dominance does not apply to all domains

-One may be dominant in the subordinate

language in some domains.

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Passive or Recessive Bilinguals

 Individuals who are gradually losing competence in
o
n
e
language, usually because of disuse.

- common among immigrant groups.

- often loose productive skills while

retaining receptive skills.

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 Semi-lingual or Limited
Bilinguals

• Individuals who appear to have limited proficiency in
both languages. Deficit in six language competencies.

• correctness of language
• unconscious processing of language (automation)
• language creation
• mastery of the of language (e.g., emotive,
functions cognitive)
• meanings and imagery
• Size of vocabulary
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The benefits of being bilingual

 Bilingualism is beneficial for children’s development
n
d
a
their future.
 Bilingual children internalize negative states
n
d
a externalize aggression less frequently.
 Future languages are easier to learn and the native
language is enhanced.
 Increased executive functions and decision-
making
abilities.
 Bilinguals earn on average of $7000 more than
hteri monolingual peers.

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Delays the onset of Alzheimer and dementia as 17

well as
 

Different words are used for Greetings,

farewell, To express Appreciations, To get
Someone’s attentions, Formalities and
Apologies in major languages in the world.

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 
Now I will show you the data of
Percentage of Bilingual speakers
around the world.

By: US Census bureau, 2007

American community survey

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 Remember !!

 There are probably both costs and benefits of learning
w
to languages at once.
 L2 acquisition in adulthood and later childhood
is difficult because it is not like L1 acquisition.
 There has been much debate as to how we translate
words between languages.
 Translation probably does involve conceptual
mediation.
 Bilingualism is a useful tool for studying other language
processes.
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 Bilingualism in News

 Speaking two languages may slow brain aging.
(http://www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk/learning-language-slow-brain-aging/)

 UofE study on Bilingualism and Dementia takes

the media by storm.
(http://www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk/uofe-study-bilingualism-dementia-takes-media-storm-2/)

 Learning young, Antonella Sorace writes for the

Scotsman. (http://www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk/learning-young-antonella-sorace-writes-
scotsman/)

 Bilingualism and Special Needs

(http://www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk/bilingualism-special/)

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 References

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilingualism
 http://www.livingbilingual.com
 https://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/gpg/142
 http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/docu
ment/obo-9780199772810/obo-9780199772810-
0056.xml
 http://www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk/
 http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-
bilingual/201207/can-first-language-be-totally-
forgotten
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 
So… Ladies and gentlemen

Thanks for your

Patience.

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