Myths and realities about bilingualism

To clarify the terminology a bit before diving into the advantages and myths.

When we talk about language The majority language is defined as the language spoken by the community; in other words, the official language of the country. dominant It is the language in which the person is most fluent, and in which they feel most comfortable communicating.

In short, for reasons that vary greatly from one family to another, parents question which language to use for their children and how to behave in various situations. So here are some questions and answers on the subject, based on scientific literature.

Is a child who learns more than one language confused?

No.

Bilingualism is a complex undertaking, but here are some facts to help you better understand how it works, and to debunk this myth:

• Children can distinguish their mother tongue even during pregnancy in the womb;
• They can discriminate between words in different languages ​​a few months after birth;
• They will begin to acquire the grammatical rules of each language around the age of 2 if they are exposed to both languages ​​from birth with sufficient frequency;
• Individually, each language may seem to develop slowly at a young age. This is normal, as the child learns more than one language and needs sufficient exposure to each. The child needs practice and plenty of quality exposure before mastering each language.
• Mixing two words in a “code-switching” sentence is not a sign of confusion; your child needs time to consolidate their acquisition of vocabulary rules in each language, and vocabulary;
• It is common for adults to mix two languages, and your child picks up what they hear and see.

Can learning more than one language cause delays or difficulties in language development?

No.

• A child with genuine communication difficulties will exhibit these difficulties in both languages;
• Each bilingual child develops at their own pace, depending on the quantity and quality of exposure to each language;
• A bilingual child should acquire language at the same pace as a monolingual child. They should therefore produce their first words between 12 and 16 months, their first word combinations around 18-24 months, and their first sentences around 30-36 months. Just like a monolingual child;
• A child who is exposed to more than one language is not immune to developing language difficulties, but exposure to languages ​​is not the cause;

Can a child who already has communication difficulties learn more than one language?

Yes.

• Learning to speak two languages ​​will not worsen existing difficulties;
• Being bilingual can HELP a child with a communication disorder by providing them with resources in another language to facilitate communication;
• A child who has language development difficulties already takes longer to acquire language than a child who develops typically in terms of communication;
• The amount of exposure to each language is important for its development and mastery. The recommended daily exposure to each language is at least 40%.

Should I remove one language to make it easier to learn the majority language?

• A child is capable of learning more than one language simultaneously without any particular requirement. A child's brain doesn't simply add one language to another with a limit on the amount of linguistic information it can absorb. It functions in a much more complex way and can easily handle two or even more languages ​​simultaneously.
• Removing a language will not change the child's language skills;
• The quality of the languages ​​to which the child is exposed is important. If the parent does not master the community language, they risk providing the child with lower quality language models;
• Removing a language can have some negative impacts, especially if it's the language spoken at home. Removing the parents' dominant language, if it's not the same as the majority language spoken at home, can:
  • Limiting the child to only one language to communicate, when previously the child could use both;
  • Reduce the quality and ability of the child to communicate with their community, family and friends;
  • Harming self-esteem and attachment to family, because parents who do not master the majority language will not be able to communicate in the same way in the community language;
  • Reduce job and education opportunities.
  • Reduce the frequency of language patterns.

It is therefore important to understand that language helps create identity, socialize, build friendships, and express ideas and feelings. Language connects with a sense of cultural and community belonging. It is important to cultivate a positive atmosphere around language and not force a child to speak one language or another.

Is the "one parent - one language" strategy the right one to adopt?

No!

• Studies have shown that parents are unable to implement this strategy. But why? Because it doesn't reflect our natural behavior. We spontaneously adopt what is called "code-switching" (mixing two languages ​​at once), and for several reasons.
• Code-switching can manifest itself in two forms: two languages ​​mixed within a statement (e.g., Wow, look at the speed of the race car. It's completely wild!), or a sentence in one language followed by another sentence in a second language (Come on kids, it's time to go. Let's go!).
• One reason we use code-switching is for pragmatic reasons—in other words, to emphasize a word, as in the example. We also do it to fill in gaps or to conform to societal norms. Efforts to stick to "one parent, one language" reflect the belief that the child will become mixed if we use two languages, and thus reflect a "monolingual" mentality. In fact, there is no scientific literature that supports this strategy.

Furthermore, numerous advantages related to bilingualism are documented in the literature, such as:

• To serve as a protective factor for the aging brain;
• To enable better problem-solving due to improved executive functions and enhanced metalinguistic awareness;
• To allow for better job opportunities later;
• And to allow for salary benefits.

However, if you have any concerns about your child's language development, It is advisable to have a speech therapy consultation.

Resources :

For more information, visit the podcast of Chantal Mayer-Crittenden, a speech therapist who is interested in bilingualism:

https://www.theparlepodcast.com/parleacute-en-balado.html

On Aodrenn Guyodo's blog, which also debunks myths about bilingualism:

http://1bulle2langues.com/category/bilinguisme/

Conference on the brain and bilingualism presented by Christophe Pallier, neurolinguist at Neurospin at CEA, in March 2021:

Here are some websites about bilingualism:

https://bilingualkidsrock.com
https://bilingualmonkeys.com
https://multilingualparenting.com
https://www.bilingualavenue.com