What Does Bilingual Mean?

What does bilingual mean?  When you hear the term "Bilingual" what do yous call back of? Is there a simple definition of bilingual?

Some say that bilingual means that a person is a native speaker of two languages. Others say bilingual ways that someone is fluent in two languages.

In that location are as well many who say that bilingual means just to be able to communicate in two languages.

But, what is the true definition of being bilingual? What does bilingual really mean? And when can y'all really call someone bilingual?

What is the definition of bilingual?

According to the Oxford Dictionary  the definition of bilingual is:

Bilingual equally a Noun: "A person fluent in two languages"
 Bilingual every bit an Adjective: "Speaking two languages fluently"

It really isn't that simple, because the word "fluent" too can also mean different things to different people. And, it varies on who you speak to, or which research you read, as to how fluent someone needs to exist, to be called bilingual.

Related: What does monolingual hateful

How does someone get bilingual?

There are many means someone can become bilingual.

Many people who are bilingual accept acquired ii languages from their early on childhood.

They may have had parents who spoke two different languages with them (OPOL), or they may have lived in a customs where the language spoken outside, was dissimilar to the i spoken at home. (MLAH).

Others may have been brought up with i linguistic communication, and acquired some other language later in life.

They may have studied the language at school, had a bilingual education, travelled, or learned for other reasons.

When can you call someone bilingual?

When you look at what it means to exist bilingual, different people take different ideas on how fluent someone needs to be in the two languages they speak, to really exist considered bilingual.

"Speaking two languages fluently" is one definition. Only if talk nearly monolinguals who speak only 1 linguistic communication, and we consider everyone "fluent" in that linguistic communication, there are many differences in the levels of "fluency."

Sometimes the amount of education a person has received will influence the corporeality of vocabulary they have. Does it mean that someone less educated is less fluent in their native language?

The bilingual definition doesn't seem and then unproblematic at all does it?

When tin we call children bilingual?

Many people, including myself, phone call their children bilingual when they are raised to speak two languages, fifty-fifty if they are immature and don't yet speak those languages fluently.

After all, fifty-fifty a 3 twelvemonth old who is bilingual, is only fluent in the languages he or she speaks, for the level of a 3 twelvemonth old.

Yous can't await them to have the vocabulary of an adult at such a young age.

Likewise, some children learn quicker than others, some take a little more time to master both languages.

Does that mean nosotros can still telephone call them bilingual? Or should we wait until they have a full vocabulary?

I would think that if a child can speak their languages to the level of their peers, that those languages would be considered native, and therefore those children can be chosen bilingual.

However, at that place are some who would disagree if one language isn't as fluent as the other.

Recommended: Counterbalanced bilingualism: Is it possible and does it even affair?

What nigh reading and writing?

In that location is also the question of reading and writing. Does a person need to be able to speak, read and write in both languages to exist chosen bilingual or biliterate?

Many people consider themselves bilingual if they have been brought upwardly with ii languages, even if they are not as fluent in both, or if they can simply read and write in one language.

Does that mean that we practice not consider someone bilingual if they can non read in both languages, fifty-fifty if they are fluent speakers?

Professionals in the field say that not all bilinguals will have the same proficiency in both languages they speak anyway. In many cases, one of the languages is stronger.

Professor Francois Grosjean

Specialist in bilingualism Professor Francois Grosjean mentions in an article from his website:

"Bilinguals know their languages to the level that they need them. Some bilinguals are ascendant in 1 languages, others exercise non know how to read and write one of their languages, others have only passive cognition of a language and, finally, a small minority, have equal and perfect fluency in their languages. What is of import to go on in listen is that bilinguals are very various, as are monolinguals"

To be bilingual means different things to different people

So, what does bilingual mean to y'all? Whatsoever your opinion, it may exist unlike to your friends or other people you know.

How and why a person caused their languages can influence their own, and others' perception of the word bilingual.

While i person who was brought upwards in a bilingual household may not consider themselves bilingual because they feel they cannot speak both languages to the same level, another may believe they are bilingual every bit soon every bit they are able to limited themselves comfortably in both languages.

While one person may not consider themselves bilingual just considering they learned a language later in life, rather than from nascency, another who was brought up bilingually from nativity may not consider themselves bilingual because they practice non use the language anymore.

So what does bilingual mean?

There are definitions in a dictionary, and from professionals in the field, even so sometimes it comes downwardly to how a person feels being able to express themselves in both of their languages.

There are and so many ways to exist called bilingual. What does bilingual mean to you lot? What is the definition of bilingual in your opinion?

Read Next:

  • Benefits of being bilingual
  • What is monolingual
  • What is a polyglot

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