bilingualism1
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LANGUAGE AND SOCIETYBilinguals and Bilingualism
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BILINGUALISM Why do we study bilingualism?
A large proportion of the world’s population knows and uses more than one language on a regular basis. Multilingualism is the norm. More than 140 languages are spoken in Manchester. Language planning (social and educational policy) is a political issue often based on academic research.
The following slides show the increase in population of hispanics/latinos/as in the US since 1970. The increase has had a marked effect on discussions of bilingualism in the US.
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14.622.4
35.347.8
59.773.0
87.6
102.6
9.6
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010* 2020* 2030* 2040* 2050*
Population in millions
Hispanic Population in the United States: 1970 to 2050
*Projected Population as of July 1
ProjectionsCensus
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 Decennial Censuses; Population Projections, July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2050
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6.49.0
12.515.5
17.820.1
22.324.4
4.7
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010* 2020* 2030* 2040* 2050*
Percent Hispanic of the Total Population in the United States: 1970 to 2050
*Projected Population as of July 1
ProjectionsCensus
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 Decennial Censuses; Population Projections, July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2050
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BILINGUALISM Topics in bilingualism
Who is bilingual? What is a native language? How does a child acquire two languages? How does bilingualism influence a human being’s intellectual and
mental growth? When and how should we learn a second language? Does a bilingual’s brain function differently from a monolingual’s brain? How and when do bilinguals switch from one language to the other?
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BILINGUALISM
True or False? Learning more than one language confuses a child and
lowers his/her IQ? A child should learn one language properly before
learning a second one. A person cannot be a real bilingual if he learns a second
language late. Bilinguals have to translate from their weaker to their
stronger language. Learning two languages may cause cultural identity
problems for a child.
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BILINGUALISM
Approaches Linguistics – studies the structure and development of
the two languages Psycholinguistics – studies the psychological basis of
bilingual’s language competence and performance Sociolinguistics – looks at how cultures/social groups
affect language performance and language choice Neurolinguistics – studies the relationship between
language and the brain
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DEFINITIONS
Individual bilingualism vs Societal bilingualism Bilingualism as an individual attribute: a psychological
state of an individual who has access to two language codes to serve communication purposes.
Bilingualism as a societal attribute: two languages are used in a community and that a number of individuals can use two languages.
Should bilingualism be defined at an individual or a societal level?
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DEFINITIONS
5 dimensions Cognitive organisation of
two languages Age of acquisition Language proficiency Sequence of acquisition
of two languages
Societal factors
Individual characteristics
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COMPOUND VS. COORDINATE BILINGUALS
Compound bilingual: Has one semantic system but two linguistic codes.
Usually refers to someone whose two languages are learnt at the same time, often in the same context.
Coordinate bilingual: Has two semantic systems and two linguistic codes.
Usually refers to someone whose two languages are learnt in distinctively separate contexts
Subordinate bilingual: The weaker language is interpreted through the stronger
language
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THE MENTAL LEXICON OF MONOLINGUALS
Semantic system
Has wingsHas feathersCan fly
Language code
Orange Apple Apple Bird
naranja mansana mansana pajaro
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THE MENTAL LEXICON OF BILINGUALS
Semantic system Semantic System 1
Semantic System 2
English Spanish English Spanish
Compound bilingual Coordinate bilingual
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THE MENTAL LEXICON OF BILINGUALS
Semantic system
English Spanish
Subordinate bilingual
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THE MENTAL LEXICON OF BILINGUALS
Semantic System 1
English Spanish
Semantic System 2
English Spanish
Semantic System 2
Semantic System 1
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THE MENTAL LEXICON OF BILINGUALS
Whether there are two or more systems depends on: Age of acquisition Learning/teaching method Similarities and differences between the
two languages
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EARLY VS. LATE BILINGUALS
Early bilingual: someone who has acquired two languages
early in childhood (usually received systematic training/learning of a second language before age 6).
Late bilingual: someone who has become a bilingual later
than childhood (after age 12). Discussion: Is there a “critical period”
for second language learning?
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EARLY VS. LATE BILINGUALS
How do we determine the age of acquisition?
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BALANCED VS. DOMINANT BILINGUALS
Balanced bilingual: someone whose mastery of two languages
is roughly equivalent. Dominant bilingual:
someone with greater proficiency in one of his or her languages and uses it significantly more than the other language.
Semilingual: someone with insufficient knowledge of
either language.
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SUCCESSIVE VS. SIMULTANEOUS BILINGUALS
Successive bilingualism: Learning one language after already knowing another. This is the
situation for all those who become bilingual as adults, as well as for many who became bilingual earlier in life. Sometimes also called consecutive bilingualism.
Simultaneous bilingualism: Learning two languages as "first languages". That is, a person who is a
simultaneous bilingual goes from speaking no languages at all directly to speaking two languages. Infants who are exposed to two languages from birth will become simultaneous bilinguals.
Receptive bilingualism: Being able to understand two languages but express oneself in only
one. This is generally not considered "true" bilingualism but is a fairly common situation.
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ADDITIVE VS. SUBTRACTIVE BILINGUALS
Additive bilingual: The learning of a second language does not interfere with
the learning of a first language. Both languages are well developed.
Subtractive bilingual: The learning a second language interferes with the
learning of a first language. The second language replaces the first language.
Additive or subtractive bilingualism is related to the different status associated with the two languages in a society.
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ELITE VS. FOLK BILINGUALS
Elite bilingual: Individuals who choose to have a bilingual
home, often in order to enhance social status.
Folk bilingual: Individuals who develop second language
capacity under circumstances that are not often of their own choosing, and in conditions where the society does not value their native language.
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SUMMARY: DEFINITIONS
Coordinate vs. Compound bilingualism Early vs. Late bilingualism Balanced vs. Dominant bilingualism Simultaneous vs. Successive
bilingualism Additive vs. Subtractive bilingualism Elite vs. Folk bilingualism