In this paper a definition of the term bilingualism will be attempted, whereas different points of views, e.g. the sociolinguistic and the psycholinguistic point of view, will be implemented. What is more, a closer look at the implementation of languages in the human brain will be analyzed, in order to understand why bilingualism as well as early bilingual teaching have a deep impact on children’s and student’s language development.
The question “what is bilingualism?” is not easy to answer. Even if we study the great canon of literature on bilingualism, it leads to the conclusion that there aren’t any common definitions to be found. Linguists have only agreed on the point that bilingualism refers to an individual that has language skills in two languages. However, linguists set the degree of bilingualism differently: on the one hand, rudimentary knowledge about a language seems enough, whereas on the other hand, in order to be regarded as a bilingual, a speaker is supposed to have sophisticated knowledge about both languages, similar to the language level of a monolingual (Baker, 2006, p. 15).
This statement forces a variety of further questions to arouse such as “what does it mean to be able to speak two languages? In how far do the languages have to be developed and sophisticated in order to call an individual a bilingual speaker? What kind of criteria have to be fulfilled?
As mentioned before, linguists are not in an agreement about the definition of the term bilingualism. The reason might be the great variety within the scope of science that deals with this very phenomenon of bilingualism. Besides the field of linguistics psychology, sociology and pedagogic are fields that show great interest in bilingualism as well. Psychology deals with the phenomenon of bilingualism concerning mental processes, sociology deals with cultural aspects in close contact with the society, and pedagogic is concerned with bilingualism occurring in school life, respectively in school and lesson planning.
Further, bilingualism or multilingualism is analyzed in all disciplines in two different levels; first, the individual level and the social level. Humans live in a society in which they communicate with each other, express their feelings, thoughts and attitudes. Humans are beings that think about their impressions of the world and clothe their thoughts in words.
Table of Contents
- Bilingualism
- Introduction
- The Linguistic Approaches
- The Psycholinguistic Approach
- The Sociolinguistic Approach
- Early and late bilingualism
- Compact and coordinated bilingualism
- Semilingualism
- The bilingual Brain
- Representation of two languages in the human brain
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to define bilingualism, incorporating various perspectives, particularly psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic viewpoints. It further explores the neurological representation of languages in the brain to understand the impact of bilingualism and early bilingual education on language development.
- Defining Bilingualism: Examining diverse perspectives on the criteria for classifying someone as bilingual.
- Psycholinguistic Approaches: Analyzing different theoretical stances on the level of language proficiency required for bilingualism.
- Sociolinguistic Perspectives: Considering the social and cultural contexts of bilingualism and language use.
- Neural Representation of Languages: Investigating how the brain processes and stores multiple languages.
- Impact on Language Development: Exploring the effects of bilingualism and early bilingual education on children's linguistic skills.
Chapter Summaries
Bilingualism: This chapter grapples with the complex question of defining bilingualism, highlighting the lack of a universally accepted definition among linguists. It explores the varying degrees of bilingual proficiency, ranging from rudimentary knowledge to near-native fluency in two languages, and introduces the diverse fields of study—linguistics, psychology, sociology, and pedagogy—that contribute to understanding this multifaceted phenomenon. The chapter lays the groundwork for subsequent explorations into the psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic aspects of bilingualism and its impact on language development.
The Linguistic Approaches: This section delves into the contrasting perspectives within linguistics regarding bilingualism. It introduces the maximalist view, advocating for near-native proficiency in both languages as a defining characteristic of bilingualism, contrasting it with the minimalist view, which considers even minimal language skills sufficient. The chapter explores the debate's nuances, highlighting the contributions of various linguists and their differing criteria for determining bilingual status. This sets the stage for further investigation into the complexities of measuring and defining bilingual competence.
Keywords
Bilingualism, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, language representation in the brain, code-switching, language proficiency, multilingualism, early bilingual education.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the overall topic of this language preview?
This preview provides a comprehensive overview of bilingualism, exploring its definition, linguistic approaches (psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic), the neurological representation of languages in the brain, and its impact on language development. It includes a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key themes explored in this preview?
The key themes include defining bilingualism from various perspectives (particularly psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic), analyzing different theoretical stances on bilingual proficiency, considering the social and cultural contexts of bilingualism, investigating how the brain processes multiple languages, and exploring the effects of bilingualism and early bilingual education on children's linguistic skills.
What are the different approaches to understanding bilingualism discussed?
The preview discusses psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic approaches. The psycholinguistic approach focuses on the mental processes involved in language use and acquisition in bilingual individuals, while the sociolinguistic approach examines the social and cultural factors influencing language use and bilingualism in different contexts.
How does the preview define bilingualism?
The preview acknowledges the lack of a universally accepted definition of bilingualism, highlighting the debate between maximalist and minimalist views. Maximalists require near-native proficiency in both languages, while minimalists consider even minimal language skills sufficient. The preview explores these varying perspectives and the criteria used to classify individuals as bilingual.
What is discussed regarding the bilingual brain?
The preview explores the neurological representation of languages in the brain, investigating how the brain processes and stores multiple languages. It touches upon the impact of bilingualism and early bilingual education on language development.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview provides summaries for chapters on "Bilingualism" (addressing the complexities of defining bilingualism and the various fields of study contributing to its understanding) and "The Linguistic Approaches" (exploring contrasting perspectives within linguistics on bilingualism, including the maximalist and minimalist views).
What keywords are associated with this preview?
The keywords are: Bilingualism, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, language representation in the brain, code-switching, language proficiency, multilingualism, early bilingual education.
What is the overall aim of this language preview?
The aim is to provide a structured and comprehensive understanding of bilingualism, incorporating diverse perspectives and exploring its cognitive and social aspects, along with its impact on language development.
- Quote paper
- Sara Ekici (Author), 2009, What is Bilingualism? Effects of early and late bilingualism on the human brain, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/137841
