Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bilingualism
What is bilingualism?
What are the pros and cons of bilingualism?
Are bilinguals two monolinguals in one person or a
complete linguistic entity?
How are the two languages organised in the brain?
What are reasons for foreign accents?
What is code switching?
What are the speach patterns of bilingual families like ?
What are the aims of bilingual educational systems?
Defining Bilingualism
Julia Litz LN HS
Defining Bilingualism
What is bilingualism?
It is a quite difficult task to define who is and who is not
bilingual. Bilingualism involves a number of dimensions.
Minority Language:
A language is a minority language when it has less power
and status than a majority language.
Majority Language:
Consequently the majority language is the language with
more power and a higher status in a given area.
Communication Language
Culture Education
Cognition Identity
Communication Advantages
Relationships with parents
Extended family relationships
Community relationships
Transnational communication
Language sensitivity
Cultural Advantages Cognitive Advantages
Language: Underdevelopment
Two halves
Two monolinguals One whole
in one person
Bilingual person
Unique linguistic
profile
The Fractional View
Definition Bilinguals here:
people, who are equally fluent in
their two languages, with
proficiency comparable to
monolinguals
Tests
Bilinguals normally compared to
monolingual averages and
norms
Don‘t take into account that
bilinguals use their two languages
in different situations and with
different people
Dominant View of the World
monolingual is seen as
normal
although: between 1/2 - 2/3 of
the world‘s population is
bilingual
Monolingual view of
bilinguals:
negative consequences in
cognitive processing
Effect on bilinguals: being critical
of their own language competence
The Holistic View
François Grosjean (1946 - )
Professor of Psycholinguistics
at the University of Neuchâtel
in Swizerland
is bilingual: English and French
consistently advocated a
holistic view
Bilingual = complete linguistic
entity, an integrated whole
book:
Life With Two Languages
Book: Life With Two Languages
Def. Bilingualism here:
Use of two (or more)
languages in one‘s
everyday life
NOT: knowing two
languages equally well
and optimally
Language target
mental boundary: which language to speak to which person
Language domain
mental boundary: which language to speak in which
place or situation or about which topic
Speach Patterns in Bilingual Families
Example:
Spoken in the community: German
majority language
Spoken at home: English minority language
Mother Father
English speakers
minority
German Community
majority
Child 1 Child 2
Speach Patterns in Bilingual Families
Example:
Grandma Oma
Grandpa Opa
Elliot
Uncle Tante
Mom Papa
English
German
Bilingual Speach in the Monolingual Mode
Example:
Grandma Oma
Grandpa Opa
Elliot
Uncle Tante
Mom Papa
monolingual mode: English bilingual mode: base language English
monolingual mode: German bilingual mode: base language German
Bilingual Mode - Codeswitching
„With the Kreisspiegelung a Gerade gets
abgebildet onto a circle“
„I have to go to the Einwohnermeldeamt to meld
myself um.“
Schools can…
…teach a second language.
…teach through the medium of a second
language.
Social Aims of Bilingual Education
http://www.unine.ch/ltlp/grosjean.html
http://www.eskar.org