Bilingualism
Bilingualism
Bilingualism (/baɪˈlɪŋɡwəˌlɪzəm/), from the Latin bi- (two) and the Greek γλῶσσα (language), is the ability of an individual or the members of a community to use two languages effectively.
Definition
Bilingualism is typically defined as the use of at least two languages by an individual (speaker). It is a fluctuating system in children and adults whereby the use of these languages can change depending on the opportunities to use the languages and exposure to other users of the languages.
Types of Bilingualism
There are different types of bilingualism:
- Simultaneous bilingualism: This type of bilingualism takes place when a child learns two languages from birth, or learns a second language before the age of three.
- Sequential or successive bilingualism: This occurs when a person becomes proficient in one language first and then learns another language.
Benefits of Bilingualism
Bilingualism has been linked with a number of cognitive benefits, such as increased executive function abilities, better problem-solving skills, and higher scores on creativity tests.
Bilingualism and the Brain
Research has shown that bilingualism can have profound effects on the brain, leading to increased grey matter in certain areas and improved brain plasticity.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bilingualism
- Wikipedia's article - Bilingualism
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Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski