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Multilingualism

B2 · 369 words · ≈ 2 min

Station sign at Ghum railway station, India, in English and in Devanagari script

Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. When the languages are only two, it is usually called bilingualism. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. More than half of all Europeans claim to speak at least one language other than their mother tongue, but many read and write in one language. Being multilingual is advantageous for people wanting to participate in trade, globalization and cultural openness. Owing to the ease of access to information facilitated by the Internet, individuals' exposure to multiple languages has become increasingly possible. People who speak several languages are also called polyglots.
Multilingual speakers have acquired and maintained at least one language during childhood, the so-called first language (L1). The first language (sometimes also referred to as the mother tongue) is usually acquired without formal education, by mechanisms about which scholars disagree. Children acquiring two languages natively from these early years are called simultaneous bilinguals. It is common for young simultaneous bilinguals to be more proficient in one language than the other.
People who speak more than one language have been reported to be better at language learning when compared to monolinguals.
Multilingualism in computing can be considered part of a continuum between internationalization and localization. Due to the status of English in computing, software development nearly always uses it (but not in the case of non-English-based programming languages). Some commercial software is initially available in an English version, and multilingual versions, if any, may be produced as alternative options based on the English original.
The definition of multilingualism is a subject of debate in the same way as that of language fluency. At one end of the linguistic continuum, multilingualism may be defined as the mastery of more than one language. The speaker would have knowledge of and control over the languages equivalent to that of a native speaker. At the opposite end of the spectrum would be people who know enough phrases to get around as a tourist using the alternate language. Since 1992, Vivian Cook has argued that most multilingual speakers fall somewhere between minimal and maximal definitions. Cook calls these people multi-competent.

Words to know

outnumber: be greater in number than — zahlenmäßig überlegen sein — ser más que, superar en número a — être en supériorité numérique — but see liczny — exceder em número — численно превышать, превосходить численно, превосходить численностью
monolingual: speaking only one language — einsprachig — monolingüe — unilingue, monolingue — jednojęzyczny — monolíngue — одноязычный, моноязычный — одномовний
advantageous C1: giving an advantage; helpful — vorteilhaft — provechoso — vantaggioso — korzystny — vantajoso — благоприятный, выгодный — сприятливий, вигідний
facilitate B2: made easier — fördern, erleichtern — facilitar — faciliter — facilitare — ułatwiać — facilitar — помогать, помочь, способствовать — kolaylaştırmak — сприяти, полегшувати, полегшити
acquire B1: learned or developed — erwerben — adquirir, obtener — acquérir — acquisire — nabyć, nabywać — adquirir — получать, получить, приобретать — edinmek — отримувати, отримати, здобувати
mechanism C1: the ways in which something works — Mechanismus — mecanismo — mécanisme — meccanismo — mechanizm — mecanismo — механизм — mekanizma — механізм
proficient: skilled; able to do something well — kompetent, bewandert, erfahren — competente — compétent — esperto, competente — biegły — proficiente, competente — искусный, умелый, компетентный — yeterli, uzman, becerikli — досвідчений, компетентний, вмілий
continuum: a range with gradual changes between two ends — Kontinuum — continuo — continuum — continuo — kontinuum — série — континуум
localization: adapting a product for a particular country or language — Ermitteln des Ortes — localización — localisation — localizzazione — localização — локализация — yerini tayin etme — локалізація
fluency B2: the ability to speak a language easily and well — Flüssigkeit — fluidez, soltura — scioltezza — biegłość — fluência — беглость, свободное владение — akıcılık

Text: English Wikipedia, “Multilingualism”, Wikipedia contributors, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilingualism · CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) · shortened · Picture: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sign_at_Ghum_railway_station.jpg · Translations: English Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) · Worksheet: https://krumeto.com/read/multilingualism

KrumetoMultilingualismName ____________________

A. Choose the right answer

What does the text say about multilingual and monolingual speakers worldwide? B2
1. a) Monolingual speakers are believed to outnumber multilingual ones.
2. b) Most multilingual speakers are believed to live in Europe.
3. c) Multilingual speakers are believed to outnumber monolingual ones.
4. d) The two groups are thought to be about the same size.
What does the text imply about Europeans who claim a second language? C1
1. a) They are all simultaneous bilinguals from birth.
2. b) Many of them may still read and write in only one language.
3. c) Most of them are polyglots who speak many languages.
4. d) Most of them learned their second language online.
Who are "simultaneous bilinguals"? B2
1. a) Children who acquire two languages natively from early on
2. b) Speakers who are equally proficient in both languages
3. c) Adults who study two languages at once
4. d) Interpreters who translate while someone speaks
How is the first language usually acquired, according to paragraph 2? B2
1. a) In ways that scholars fully understand
2. b) Through exposure to many languages online
3. c) Through formal lessons in early childhood
4. d) Without formal teaching, in ways scholars dispute
Why is software usually developed in English? C1
1. a) Because localization is cheaper than translation
2. b) Because most programmers are monolingual
3. c) Because of the status of English in computing
4. d) Because multilingual software is not allowed
Under the "maximal" definition, a multilingual person… B2
1. a) controls their languages as well as a native speaker
2. b) speaks at least three languages
3. c) knows enough phrases to get around as a tourist
4. d) is "multi-competent", in Vivian Cook's term
What has Vivian Cook argued since 1992? B2
1. a) Most multilingual people fall between the two definitions.
2. b) Multilingual people are better at learning new languages.
3. c) Tourists who know some phrases are not multilingual.
4. d) Only native-like mastery counts as multilingualism.

B. Answer in full sentences

Where would you place yourself on the "continuum" described in paragraph 5? Explain with examples.
Should children be raised with two languages from birth? Discuss the benefits and possible problems.

KrumetoMultilingualismAnswer key

Answer key

c) Multilingual speakers are believed to outnumber monolingual ones. — Paragraph 1 says it is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers.
b) Many of them may still read and write in only one language. — Paragraph 1 says more than half claim another language, "but many read and write in one language".
a) Children who acquire two languages natively from early on — Paragraph 2 defines them; it adds that they are often more proficient in one language than the other.
d) Without formal teaching, in ways scholars dispute — Paragraph 2 says it is acquired without formal education, by mechanisms about which scholars disagree.
c) Because of the status of English in computing — Paragraph 4 says software development nearly always uses English due to its status in computing.
a) controls their languages as well as a native speaker — Paragraph 5 describes mastery equivalent to a native speaker at one end and tourist phrases at the other.
a) Most multilingual people fall between the two definitions. — Paragraph 5 says Cook argues most fall somewhere between the definitions; the last option comes from paragraph 3.