Bilingualism and Second Language Acquisition Flashcards
how is ‘true bilingual’ defined?
having native-like proficiency in two languages
how is true bilingual defined in this case
someone who regularly uses two or more languages or dialects in everyday life
what are the two different types of bilinguals?
- simultaneous bilinguals/bilingual first language acquisition
- sequential bilinguals
what is the prevalence of bilinguals?
more than half the people in the world use two or more languages in everyday life
what are causes of bilingualism?
- many countries have numerous languages e.g. 722 in India
- trade and business
- moving of peoples e.g. migration, war
De Houwer (2009) found patterns of development in bilingual and monolingual children to be what?
identical
what is Houwer’s (2005) separate language hypothesis?
bilinguals have a separate system for their L1 and L2 from the start
what is lexical differentiation?
when children exposed to two languages have two words for the same things
does lexical differentiation support the separate language hypothesis?
yes since children acquiring one language operate on the principle of mutual exclusivity
what is phonological differentiation?
bilingual production without phonological confusion
what is acquisition?
an automatic and unconscious process by which a skill is developed without instruction
what is learning?
development of a skill as a result of a conscious process that requires instruction & information from the environment
what is the ceiling effect?
the idea that it may be impossible to develop a linguistic competence in L2 at a level similar to L1
what is a critical period?
irreversible loss of a skill if it is not acquired by a specified time
what is a sensitive period?
abnormal development of a skill if it isn’t acquired by a biological specified time
- can be compensated or reversed
how can we know there is a critical period for L2?
- learning L2 past early childhood provides mixed outcomes, and speakers usually have an accent and fail to acquire subtle aspects of the L2 grammar
- evidence from neuroimaging and MRI
is the bilingual a mental juggler?
yes - both languages are active regardless of the requirement to use one alone
does current research demonstrate both languages are active or only one at a time?
both are active at once regardless of the intention of requirement to use one language alone
what suggests that bilinguals have incredible cognitive control?
the ability to rarely speak in the wrong language but with other similar bilinguals switch language in the middle of a sentence
what is the consequence of parallel activity and competition across the bilinguals two languages?
hypothesised to create expertise that affects cognition and the brain
Bialystok et al. (2007) found bilingualism delayed what by four years? what did this suggest?
the onset of AD - suggests language experience may provide protection to the brain
