Professor: David Luciano
Class: INGL 3225
College: University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus
Grace H. Rodríguez Cruz
INGL3225- An Introduction to
Language
Prof. David H. Luciano
April 29th, 2014
Bilingualism
·
What is bilingualism?
According to
ASHA, 2004: Bilingualism is “commonly defined as the use of at least two
languages by an individual. It is a dynamic and fluid process across a number
of domains, including experience, tasks, topics, and time.” This can be
categorized in two different ways: Simultaneous bilingualism and Sequential
bilingualism. “Simultaneous bilingualism occurs when a young child has had
significant and meaningful exposure to two languages from birth. Ideally, the
child will have equal, quality experiences with both languages. Sequential
bilingualism-Occurs when an individual has had significant and meaningful
exposure to a second language, usually after the age of 3 and after the first
language is well established.”
·
Types of bilinguists individuals
According to
Maria Rosaria M’Acierno, there are three types of individuals when it comes to
bilingualism: compound, coordinate and sub-coordinate. A compound learner is “who
learns two languages in the same environment so that he/she acquires one notion
with two verbal expressions.” Coordinate learners “acquire the two languages in
different contexts (e.g., home and school), so the words of the two languages
belong to separate and independent systems”; and a sub-coordinate learner is
that who one language dominates more than the other.
·
Six ways of acquiring bilingualism
Eduardo Hernández Rangel, 2009, explains on
his writings about six different ways to acquire two languages:
1.
One person- One language
1.1.
Each parent has a different native language and
a certain knowledge of the other’s.
1.2.
The community has the dominant language of one
of the parents.
1.3.
Strategy-Each parent speaks to the child in
their own native language.
2.
Non-dominant home language
2.1.
Parents have different native languages
2.2.
Community has the dominant language of one of
the parents.
2.3.
Strategy-Both parents speak the non-dominant
language to the child and he/she is exposed to the dominant language only
outside the house.
3.
Non-dominant home language without community
support
3.1.
Parents have the same native language.
3.2.
The community’s language is different from the
parents’.
3.3.
Strategy-The parents speak their own language to
the child.
4.
Double non-dominant home language without
community support
4.1.
Parents have different native languages.
4.2.
The community’s language is different from the
parents’.
4.3.
Strategy-Parents speak their own language to the
child.
5.
Non-native parents
5.1.
Parents share the same native language.
5.2.
The community’s language is that of the
parents’.
5.3.
Strategy- One of the parents addresses the child
in a language which is not his/her native one.
6.
Mixed Languages
6.1.
Bilingual parents
6.2.
A sector of the community is also bilingual.
6.3.
Strategy-The parents use code-switching.
·
Advantages of being bilingual
According to Anne
Merritt’s article on 2013, being bilingual can boost you more than just on your
professional career, it can also:
1.
Improve the functionality of your brain. This
skill boosts your ability to negotiate meaning in other problem-solving tasks
as well.
2.
Makes good multi-taskers, because they can
easily switch between different structures.
3.
Delays Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
3.1.1. Bilinguals
tend to have the first signs at the age of 75.5 instead of the average 71.4
4.
Multiple language speakers are better at
remembering lists or sequences
5.
Better at observing their surroundings.
5.1.1. They
are more adept at focusing on relevant information and editing out the
irrelevant. They’re also better at spotting misleading information.
6.
Make more rational decisions.
6.1.1. Bilinguals
are more confident with their choices after thinking it over in the second
language and seeing whether their initial conclusions still stand up.
7.
More effective communicator and a sharper editor
and writer. Language speakers also develop a better ear for listening.
·
References:
1.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
(2004). The Advantages of Being
Bilingual. Retrieved from ASHA: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/The-Advantages-of-Being-Bilingual/
2.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
(2004). Bilingualism. Retrieved from
ASHA: http://www.asha.org/practice/multicultural/issues/bll.htm
3. Merritt, A. (2013, June 19). Why learn a foreign
language? Benefits of Bilingualism. Retrieved from The Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/10126883/Why-learn-a-foreign-language-Benefits-of-bilingualism.html
4.
Hernández, Eduardo. (2009). Bilingualism. Retrieved from SlideShare:http://www.slideshare.net/lalohr/types-of-bilingual-acquisition
5.
D’Acierno, Maria R. (1990, March). Three Types of Bilingualism. Retrieved
from ERIC: http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED321574
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