Bilingualism Flashcards
Bilingualism
Person who is able to use two or more languages
Why study bilingualism?
- Tests limits of human cognition & langugae faculty
- Is langugae faculty “monolingual” or “multilingual”?
- Does learning a second language cause developmental delays?
Bilingual first language acquisition
2 hypotheses:
Single system: initially two languages treated as single language; differentiation later
Dual systems: potential mulitlingualism, languages differentiated from start and kept seperate
Single system at outset
- Theory was motivated by code-mixing
- 3-stage model:
–1st stage: one monolingual lexical system
2nd: two lexicons, one syntactic system
3rd: differentiated lexicon & syntax
Single system hypothesis
Bilingual children first have a single linguistic system
- differentiation betw langugaes by 3yrs
Implication: young bilnguals lag behind monolinguals
Code-switching
Using words or phrases from one language while
speaking in the other language
or
Use of 2 language varieties in the same conversation
Inter-sentential: switching language between sentences
Intra-sentential: switching languages in a same sentence
Unaware of 2 systems?
Counter argument: Children with 2 systems use them when necessary (code-switching)
2 systems from outset
Hypothesis: separate systems
Evidence: weaker language used in more contexts requiring that langugae than those requiring the stronger language
Bilingual children (1-2 word stage)
- Borrowing from stronger to weaker lang (children able to differentiate their languages)
Logical problems for single system theory
- Uncontroversial: adult bilinguals distinguish their two languages
- How do you ever differentiate two languages out of one system?
- Code-mixing/switching: adults do it too
Current consensus
Dual systems: two languages systems from beginning
Effects of input
Bilingual children often hear:
- Less input (in each lang) than monolingual children
- Non-native input in the minority lang
Bilingual lexical acq
- Influenced by exposure to input
- total vocab from both languages can exceed that of a monolonigual child
- vocab from one lang can exceed that of monolinguals, but is often less, esp for weaker lang
- much individual variation
Syntax acq
development in parallel
Bilinguals and cognitive advantage research
- Better than monlinguals at tasks involving cognitivie/executive control
- constant switching and inhibition changes in the brain
Caution: popular press and IQ advantage
Cogntivie control involves…
- Paying selective attention
- Inhibiting attention to irrelevant information
- Switching between competing alternatives
Some counter evidence
Some research present no bilingual advantage
Advantages in older age (cognitive reserve)
Bilingualism may help offset age-related cognitive losses (4 to 5yrs later to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms)
Other issues
Increased metalinguistic awareness
Bilingual vs trilingualism, etc?
What about subtle negative effects?
