There are many myths about who can be called a bilingual, and about the whole phenomenon of bilingualism. Here are the most common ones:
- Bilingualism is a rare phenomenon.
Nope! According to a rough statistics calculation, more than half the world’s population uses two or more languages. So in today’s world, monolingualism is a more rare phenomenon. Bilingualism is common in even officially monolingual countries – it unites people of different ages and social classes in all parts of the world.
- Bilinguals learn languages in childhood.
This is also not true. In a previous article, I described the different types of bilingualism and pointed out that many people learn a second language as adults, and we all have chances to master them in the future. In general, adults learn a second language because of the vital need to communicate with others when moving somewhere new, or to speak with another linguistic group their own country.
- Bilinguals are equally and perfectly proficient in both languages.
Again, not true! Bilingual people know languages just as much as they need to. Someone can easily communicate in one language, but have difficulties with reading it. Others may use that language at work, but can hardly switch to talking about everyday topics. Someone may use a language passively – they can read and understand it, but it may be difficult to formulate their own thoughts. The whole world of bilinguals is very different.
- Bilinguals have no accent.
Well, it’s funny. Many monolingual people have a specific accent – what makes bilinguals worse or better? Especially considering the fact that many people learn a second language as adults. It depends more on personal skills and the place where someone grew up or lived for a long time. The presence or absence of an accent does not always indicate the level of language proficiency.
- Mixing languages is a sign of laziness in bilinguals.
If you are not in a situation where it is rude to do so (for example, when dealing with monolinguals), mixing languages adds different tones to the speech. When talking to each other, bilinguals combine one language with another, choosing the words with a slightly different meaning and making communication more vivid. Do you remember how the Russian writers of the 18th and 19th century often used French expressions? There even was a phenomenon of bilingualism in the Russian society of that period.
- Bilinguals are also multicultural.
This is not always the case. Someone who is multicultural has lived among different cultural groups for a long time. This could be a monolingual Englishman who lives in the US. However, there are many people from bilingual countries who know only one culture and have never been abroad.
- Bilinguals have a light form of “split personality disorder.”
Bilnguals, as well as all other people, adapt their behavior to their current circumstances. Rigorous and quiet conversation in English at work and expressive communication in Spanish at home says more about the differences in the behavior of being in different social roles.
- Bilinguals are born translators.
Bilingual people can often translate simple things easily. However, being a translator, like any other profession, requires other skills. Additionally, when learning and using the language in different circumstances, bilinguals sometimes simply do not know the translation of many concepts or terms.
- Bilinguals always express their feelings in their first language.
This is also not true. Firstly, not all bilinguals divide languages into their “first” and “second” language. Secondly, languages, feelings, and emotions created in the mind of bilingual person, which is a unique world with its own rules. It’s hard to say in advance which language will be used by a bilingual in any given situation.
The information was taken from the article «Myths about bilingualism» written by François Grosjean