Frequently Asked Questions

This page is for the most common questions that get asked about bilingualism, multilingualism, and the like. If you have any queries, they may be answered here - all information is backed up by data and evidence, along with further resources.

"What is bilingualism and multilingualism?"

When going through the articles on this site, you will find these terms used throughout when referring to people who speak 2 or more languages. According to the Linguistic Society of America, a person who speaks more than two languages is called 'multilingual' - although the term 'bilingual' can be used for both situations. We'll be using 'bilingual' when referring to people who can speak 2+ languages for this reason.

"What age should my child start learning a language?"

There is a lot of debate surrounding this question, but according to recent data, there is no specific age at that anyone should start learning a language, but babies & younger children unconsciously learn languages through exposure and the need to communicate (along with them being fast learners). However, adults learn consciously, meaning that people past the stage of childhood can still reach fluency in any language, but not in the same way as children. For more information, click here.

"What is the best method to use for bilingual parenting?"

There are many different ways to expose children to two languages, although no one approach has been labelled as the best for raising bilingual children. However, a few have been found to support bilingual language development;

The One Parent One Language Policy involves the parents speaking their own native language to their children (e.g. Parent A - Spanish, Parent B - Korean).
The Minority Language at Home method in that the family speaks the minority language (e.g. Urdu) in the household, and the community language (e.g. English) in a social environment - in school, with friends, etc.

For more information on these and other methods, click here. For more casual methods, click here as well.

"Do children get confused when using 2 languages?"

The short answer is no - as bilinguals (especially children) navigate their language usage, they often mix words and phrases from their languages when they speak. This is called code-switching/mixing, and it is a normal part of bilingual speech. Despite this, however, there is a common misunderstanding that when bilinguals code-switch/mix, they are confusing their languages. Current research says that mixing languages shows that children do understand the differences in grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, and also highlights their ability to communicate. For more information, click here.

"Is there a delay in speech & learning in bilingual children?"

According to this article, acquiring two languages does not affect the cognitive and non-cognitive skills of young children, such as their ability to recognise objects, match pictures, or their behaviour in everyday situations. Although bilingual children can initially lag in naming vocabulary, however, the disadvantage disappears before the age of five for most children.

Don't let this delay worry you, however. Children are quick to catch up on vocabulary in 2+ languages as long as the parents are consistent in their dual language teaching - this plays a very important role in nurturing bilingualism.

This website contains useful information by experts in the field, but in summary; family members, language courses at school, private language classes or personal tutors, multi-media (DVDs, computer software, websites) in the minority language, local associations and clubs, books for the children to read, games, etc. can be used for additional support aside from the parents. Any events that are associated with the language's culture(s) all build a network of friends and contacts that can increase understanding of the language.