BILINGUAL

COUNTRY
Anencov Mariana
Levc Ana-Maria

BILINGUALISM
-is commonly defined as the use of at least two
languages by an individual (ASHA, 2004). It is a
fluctuating system in children and adults whereby use
of and proficiency in two languages may change
depending on the opportunities to use the languages
and exposure to other users of the languages. It is a
dynamic and fluid process across a number of
domains, including experience, tasks, topics, and
time.

TYPESOFBILNIGUALISM
Simultaneousbilingualism
Receptivebilingualism

Sequentialbilingualism

 Simultaneousbilingualism:Learning

twolanguagesas"firstlanguages".That
is,apersonwhoisasimultaneous
bilingualgoesfromspeakingno
languagesatalldirectlytospeakingtwo
languages.

 Receptivebilingualism:Beingableto

understandtwolanguagesbutexpress
oneselfinonlyone.Childrenwhohad
highexposuretoasecondlanguage
throughouttheirlives,buthavehad
littleopportunitytousethelanguage
wouldfallinthiscategory

 Sequentialbilingualism:Learningone

languageafteralreadyestablishedafirst
language.Thisisthesituationforall
thosewhobecomebilingualasadults,as
wellasformanywhobecamebilingual
earlierinlife.

BILINGUALNATIONS

Anumberofnations,suchas
Canada,Czechoslovakia,
Cyprus,IsraelandFinland,havetwo
officiallanguagesandarethusofficially
bilingual.Theconstitutionsofthese
countriesgivefullequalitytothetwo
languages,sogovernanceisinessence
bilingual:publicadministration,debatesin
parliament,andpublicationoflawsalltake
placeintwolanguages

Thatsomecountriesareofficiallybilingual
isdue,toaconsciouseffortbythecentral
governmenttoguaranteetheuseoftwo
languages,ofwhichoneisusedbya
minoritygroup.Thus,forexample,Finland
isofficiallybilingualalthoughsome92%of
itsinhabitantsspeakFinnish.Butasa
gesturetoSwedishminority(about7%of
thepopulation)andtoprotectand
maintainSwedish,thecountryhasbeen
madeofficiallybilingual.

InIreland,whichisofficiallybilingualinEnglish
andIrishGaelic,onlyabout2%speakGaelic(The
restofthepopulationismonolingualinEnglish),
butforhistoricalandnationalreasonsagreat
effortisbeingmadetomaintainandevenrevive
Gaelic.InCanadaweseeagainthatalinguistic
majoritycoexistswithalinguisticminority:about
67%ofthepopulationspeaksEnglishasafirst
language,whereasonly26%areFrenchspeaking,
theremainderofthepopulationspeakaCanadian
IndianorEskimolanguageoraEuropean
immigrantlanguage.

We define bilingualism as having some ability to use

two or more languages. Across the globe, the majority
of the population is either bilingual or multilingual.
One of the main misconceptions about bilinguals is that they
are equally proficient with both languages in speaking,
listening, writing, reading as well as having a perfect
knowledge of their respective cultures. Bilinguals usually
dont speak both languages equally well and that is because
they use each language in different contexts, activities and
domains

In Europe, a bit more than half of the population is at least

bilingual. Trade and business are a major cause of language
contact and hence bilingualism. English has become a major
language of trade and business today. An important cause of
bilingualism is the movement of peoples. The reasons are
many - political, religious, social, economic. An increasing
number of families are fostering bilingualism by encouraging
their children to learn two languages, English and another
language, very often the home language. An increasing
number of professions need people who speak two or more
languages.

BILINGUALISMINISRAEL
-

Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel.

Hebrew is the official language used in government,
commerce, Knesset debates, court sessions, schools, and
universities. Hebrew is a required subject in Arabicspeaking schools from the third grade onwards, and a
Hebrew exam is an essential part of the matriculation
exams for students of Israeli schools.

For many years the Israeli authorities were reluctant to use

Arabic, except when explicitly ordered by law (for example, in
warnings on dangerous chemicals), or when addressing the
Arabic-speaking population. This has changed following a
November 2000 supreme court ruling which ruled that although
second to Hebrew, the use of Arabic should be much more
extensive. Since then, all road signs, food labels, and messages
published or posted by the government must also be translated
into Literary Arabic. Arabic lessons are widespread in Hebrewspeaking schools from the seventh through ninth grades. Those
who wish to do so may opt to continue their Arabic studies
through the twelfth grade and take an Arabic matriculation
exam.

Speaking two languages rather than just one has obvious

practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. There are
many advantages in being bilingual. Here are some of them:

Access to a larger world: When you learn a language you also

learn the culture. Being able to speak two languages means you
are able to speak to people in a different cultural and linguistic
context. Intellectual Gymnastic: Learning another language
stretches your mind intellectually. Research even shows that
learning a language would help delay Alzheimer disease. Better
at multitasking : Bilingual kids can switch from one activity to
another faster and are better at doing multiple tasks at once than
monolinguals. More job opportunities: Fluency in more than
one language can open many doors.Travel: Being fluent in
more than one language creates opportunities for travel.