Are you bilingual? Do you know someone who is bilingual? Most of us can answer ‘yes’ to at least one of those questions. Regardless of whether you are a fluent speaker, can only count from one to ten, or occasionally listen to music in another language, we all have some degree of experience with a language outside of our native tongue. There are numerous benefits to bilingualism, including increased attention, planning, and problem-solving skills, as well as diminished effects of aging on the brain; and many children learn more than one language from an early age. Have you wondered how learning two languages affects your child’s language development? Are there benefits? Are there challenges?
Before continuing this discussion, let’s review how languages are acquired. The type of acquisition may lead to different outcomes. Learning a second language often occurs in 2 ways:
- Simultaneous acquisition: when a child is raised bilingually from birth or when the second language is introduced prior to age 3.
- Sequential acquisition: when a second language is introduced after age 3. Typical language characteristics of children who acquire language sequentially include:
- A ‘silent period’ when first exposed to the new language – children build their understanding of the new language over weeks to months
- Using short, learned, memorized phrases to communicate in the new language
There are often misunderstandings around bilingualism and language development. Caregivers wonder if bilingualism can cause language delays and how speaking to their child in two languages impacts their child’s language development. The next section answers these inquiries by debunking common myths of bilingualism and language development.
1. Does bilingualism cause language or speech delay?
- No. Bilingual children may have a smaller vocabulary in each individual language compared to the average, but their total vocabulary across both languages would be comparable to a monolingual child.
Bilingual and monolingual children may experience language-learning challenges to the same degree, and children with language delay are able to learn a second language.
Bilingual children develop speech at the same rate as their peers. Bilingualism does not affect how early your child begins to speak.
2. Should caregivers only speak the majority language at home with their child instead of their native language?
- No. Research suggests that children with strong foundational skills in their home language can more easily acquire a second language.
Evidence does not suggest a second language needs to be spoken frequently at home for it to be acquired. It is important that children, with and without language impairment, share a common language with their caregivers.
Children may learn specific words in their home language and other words or concepts in the language used in daycare/school.
Children tend to develop language quicker in the language they hear more often. The quality of this input (e.g., hearing different types of words, hearing complex vocabulary and grammar) impacts language development.
3. Is it normal for bilingual children to go back and forth between languages in the same sentence?
- Yes. This process is called codeswitching – when an individual switches between languages in a sentence.
4. Should children with developmental delays, speech sound disorders, Down Syndrome, or Autism be encouraged to only learn one language?
- No. Research shows that when children (with the conditions above) are given enough opportunity to learn more than one language, they can develop bilingual vocabularies similar to monolingual comparison groups. They can acquire two languages within their language capabilities.
More Information
For more information, check out these articles from The Hanen Centre (Canada), Zero to Three (USA), and Raising Children (Australia).
1. The Hanen Centre (Canada)
Bilingualism in young children: Separating fact from fiction
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Bilingualism-in-Young-Children–Separating-Fact-fr.aspx
Can children with language impairments learn two languages?
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Can-children-with-language-impairments-learn-two-l.aspx
Are Two Languages Better Than One
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Our-Views-on-the-News/Are-Two-Languages-Better-Than-One-.aspx
2. Zero to Three (USA)
Dual Language Development: Double the Benefit
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/303-dual-language-development-double-the-benefit
Multilingualism
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2095-multilingualism
Taking Two Languages to Preschool: Supporting Children who are Dual Language Learners
https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/2214-taking-two-languages-to-preschool-supporting-children-who-are-dual-language-learners
3. Raising Children (Australia)
Benefits of raising multilingual and bilingual children
https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/connecting-communicating/bilingualism-multilingualism/bilingualism
