Multilingualism
Multilingualism, also known as polyglotism, refers to the ability of individuals or communities to communicate in multiple languages. People proficient in two languages are termed bilinguals, while those with proficiency in three languages are called trilinguals. The definition of multilingualism can vary, as not all multilingual individuals possess complete fluency in each language. Some may only have basic conversational skills, while others might understand a language without being able to speak it, known as receptive bilingualism.
In today's globalized world, multilingual individuals are more common than monolinguals, driven by the need for effective communication in trade and information exchange. Many countries, including Canada and India, embrace multiple official languages, fostering multilingual education from a young age. Moreover, emigration can impact language learning, leading to situations where individuals may not fully master either their native language or a second language.
Research indicates that bilingual and multilingual people often exhibit enhanced cognitive abilities, better conflict resolution skills, and increased resistance to dementia. Learning additional languages can be easier once foundational bilingualism is achieved, suggesting that early exposure to multiple languages significantly benefits language acquisition overall.
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Subject Terms
Multilingualism
Multilingualism, also called polyglotism, is the ability to speak more than one language and the act of doing so by an individual or a community. People who speak multiple languages are called polyglots. The term bilingual is used for people who speak two languages, and trilingual refers to people who speak three.
It is often assumed that people who identify as bilingual or multilingual understand, speak, and write each language with complete fluency, although that definition is up for debate. Individuals may, for example, be able to speak only basic phrases in multiple languages or in multiple languages of the same family. A bilingual individual may also be able to understand a second language but not speak it, which is termed receptive bilingualism. The definition of what constitutes “one language” is ever changing and often evolves over time.
Overview
Due to the globalized, interconnected nature of the modern world and out of necessity for exchanging information and trade, those who speak more than one language outnumber those who speak only one language (monolinguists). The Internet has also contributed in exposing more people to multiple languages. Some nations such as Canada have more than one national language, and in large nations with multiple languages and dialects, such as India, children must become multilingual in the local dialects and official languages of their region. Many small nations rely on international relations and thus require their children to learn one or more foreign languages in addition to the nation’s official one.
A native speaker is someone whose first language is learned during childhood, without formal education. Children may learn more than one first language from parents or other caretakers, although one language will usually be preferred or feel more natural than the other. Native speakers are often viewed as having more skill with their first language than is a secondary language learner. Emigration may disrupt the learning of a first language, and the second language could be learned insufficiently, resulting in a form of bilingualism that exists without full mastery of either language. Receptive bilingualism may also occur among immigrants who, for example, may understand both their native language and English but only speak their native language to their children, who learn English in the classroom. If the children are productively bilingual instead of receptively, they may reply in a combination of both languages, depending on the situation. There is also “code switching,” in which speakers switch between languages during a single conversation.
Psychologists believe that bilingual and multilingual individuals have better cognitive abilities than do monolinguists. Learning languages becomes easier once an individual knows two, and research has shown that multilingualists are better at resolving conflicts, dealing with ambiguities, thinking quickly, and are resistant to dementia. Research has also shown that the earlier children learn another language, the better they become at language as a whole.
Bibliography
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