Children raised in bilingual households have an advantage over monolingual children in some skills. Image by milan6 (sxc.hu)
Babies have a critical period during which they attune themselves to their native language. According to scientists the timing of this period can be affected by environmental factors, such as, maternal depression and bilingual upbringing.
In the research, presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), is some of the first to explore the effects of antidepressants and maternal mental health on language acquisition.
Previous research by Psychology Professor Janet Werker has found that in the first few months of life, babies quickly attune to the language they hear and the facial movements associated with speaking. After this initial period they focus on learning their native language and effectively ignore other languages.
In bilingual households this period, which typically ends around 8 months old, extends for longer. This is especially true of the face recognition aspect of speech.
Benefits of a bilingual upbringing
Studies have shown that a bilingual brain develops more densely, giving bilingual children an advantage in certain abilities and skills. In speaking and writing ability, bilingual children are better able to understand the distinction between form and meaning.
Exposure to more than one language as a child can also impact on reading development. Bilingual children have a greater phonological awareness than monolingual children. That means they can identify different sounds within language, a major part of the process of learning to read.
Disadvantages to bilingualism?
A potential problem regarding children raised in a bilingual household is one of identity. If a child is raised in Spain and goes to a Spanish speaking school, yet speaks English at home, do they consider themselves Spanish or British?
This child may well reject English as he doesn’t want to appear different to his friends. Experts suggest you should take cues from the child on which language to use when situations like this arise. A positive attitude to bilingualism must be promoted at home in order to give the child a view of language and how it can be used to express themselves.
Spot on, Ingrid. I’ve read so many insightful, cuittng-edge studies on issues such as bilingualism, migration and social justice in Japanese, but they never get picked up in English-language literature. I’ve also come across so many English-language literature in which authors claim that this is the first time so and so has ever been studied, whereas the truth is often that the researchers haven’t checked non-English literature that might have already addressed the same issue. I think Language-on-the-Move can play an important role in raising awareness of this imbalance by continuing to introduce non-English literature in an accessible manner.
This is fantastic!. Look there are so many perecptual problems. I think our frames are hugely coloured ones. World for us means a few countries!Thanks you so much for helping me see how multilingualism thriving in so-called mono-lingual countries. I think the world has never been a monolingual entity. It is only politically made to appear that way.Your post reminds me of a couplet in Urdu written by Mir Taqi Mir:Sar Saree Tum Jahan Say GuzrayVarna Har ja Jahan-e-diga thaMy translation of the couplet: (Oh You have seen the world superficiallyElse you would have dicovered every place a unique one)Thanks once again for the post.BestKhan