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    Dimensions of Bilingualism

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    Noor Ain
    1) The document discusses definitions of individual and societal bilingualism and identifies problems with traditional definitions. It argues definitions need to account for multiple dimensions of bilingualism. 2) Key dimensions of individual bilingualism include relative competence in each language, age and context of language acquisition, presence of language communities, relative status of languages, and cultural identity. 3) Bilingualism is a multidimensional reality that varies along these linguistic, psychological, and sociological dimensions for each individual. Defining an individual's bilingualism requires describing them across all dimensions.

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    Dimensions of Bilingualism

    Uploaded by

    Noor Ain
    484 views5 pages
    1) The document discusses definitions of individual and societal bilingualism and identifies problems with traditional definitions. It argues definitions need to account for multiple dimensions of bilingualism. 2) Key dimensions of individual bilingualism include relative competence in each language, age and context of language acquisition, presence of language communities, relative status of languages, and cultural identity. 3) Bilingualism is a multidimensional reality that varies along these linguistic, psychological, and sociological dimensions for each individual. Defining an individual's bilingualism requires describing them across all dimensions.

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    1) The document discusses definitions of individual and societal bilingualism and identifies problems with traditional definitions. It argues definitions need to account for multiple dimensions of bilingualism. 2) Key dimensions of individual bilingualism include relative competence in each language, age and context of language acquisition, presence of language communities, relative status of languages, and cultural identity. 3) Bilingualism is a multidimensional reality that varies along these linguistic, psychological, and sociological dimensions for each individual. Defining an individual's bilingualism requires describing them across all dimensions.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    484 views5 pages

    Dimensions of Bilingualism

    Uploaded by

    Noor Ain
    1) The document discusses definitions of individual and societal bilingualism and identifies problems with traditional definitions. It argues definitions need to account for multiple dimensions of bilingualism. 2) Key dimensions of individual bilingualism include relative competence in each language, age and context of language acquisition, presence of language communities, relative status of languages, and cultural identity. 3) Bilingualism is a multidimensional reality that varies along these linguistic, psychological, and sociological dimensions for each individual. Defining an individual's bilingualism requires describing them across all dimensions.

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    of 5

    1

    Mutliculturalism

    Dimensions and measurement of bilingualism

    1.1 Problems of definition

    Contrary to the generally accepted view in western societies, most countries and people in the

    world are bilingual. What does bilingual mean? For an individual? For a country?

    1.1.1 Individual bi/multi-lingualism

    1) Are you "bilingual"? If yes, give reasons why you consider yourself to be bilingual. Explain

    what you mean by "monolingual"?

    2) In one sentence write your definition of bilingual(ism):

    A bilingual is someone who is .....................................................................................................................................

    Bilingualism is ................................................................................................................................................................

    According to the popular view a bilingual is .............................................................................................

    and bilingualism is .........................................................................................................................................

    3) Why do you think these definitions are unsatisfactory?


    2

    1.1.2 Societal bi/multi-lingualism

    1) Estimate how many countries in the world are bi/multi-lingual:

    2) What is odd about this list? How many countries have more than one language? Are there

    really so few bilingual countries?

    3) Can you name a unilingual country?

    4) Where is English spoken

    a) as a first language?

    b) as a second language?
    3

    1.2 The Dimensions of Individual Bilingualism

    Traditional definitions of individual bilingualism are inadequate because they are imprecise and

    one-sided, failing to take into account the many different dimensions of this phenomenon. Individual

    bilingualism, called BILINGUALITY by Hamers and Blanc (1989:6) may be defined as:

    The psychological state of an individual who has access to more than one linguistic code as a

    means of communication; this access varies along a number of dimensions, which are

    linguistic, psychological or sociological in nature".

    Therefore, Bilinguality is a relative, variable and multidimensional reality. These dimensions include (in

    random order):

    1) The relative competence in each of the languages;

    2) The age and context of acquisition of each language;

    3) The presence or absence of communities speaking the two languages in the environment;

    4) The relative status of each language in the society; and

    5) The bilingual's cultural identity.


    4

    To define the bilinguality of an individual it is necessary to describe the individual along all five

    dimensions. Throughout this course, for ease of explanation, we shall consider only the case of two

    languages but it should be kept in mind that most of what follows is applicable to more than two

    languages.

    1.2.1 Relative competence in the two languages

    Balanced bilinguals

    Dominant bilinguals

    Ambilingualism

    Why is the ambilingual a rare species?

    1.2.1 Age and context of acquisition

    Childhood bilinguality a) simultaneous LA/LB

    b) consecutive L1/L2

    Adolescent "

    Adult "

    1.2.3 Presence or absence of speech communities

    Endogenous bilinguality

    Exogenous "

    Give examples of :

    a) endogenous bilinguality

    b) exogenous bilinguality
    5

    1.2.4 Relative status of the two languages

    Additive bilinguality

    Subtractive "

    1.2.5 The cultural identity of the bilingual

    Bicultural

    Monocultural

    L2 - Acculturated

    Deculturated

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