SLS 380 Quiz 1 Chapter 1

children learn two languages at birth, aka infant bilingualism or ‘bilingual first language acquisition’

children learn a second language after about three years of age

• have one well-developed language
• other is in the early stages of development

the second language is developing

one language is decreasing

more than one language used on an everyday basis

absence of a second language

bilinguals with a receptive ability, i.e. understanding or reading

a person learns a second language at no cost to their first language

the first language is being replaced by the second language

• choose to learn a language, e.g. in a classroom
• typically come from majority language groups
• learn second language without losing first

• learn another language to function effectively because of circumstances, i.e. immigrants.
• first language insufficient to meet their educational, political, and employment requirements and the communicative needs of the majority language society
• first language in danger of being replaced by second

people with minimal competence in a second language are also considered bilinguals

only people with “native-like control of two or more languages” are considered bilinguals

• deficiencies in bilinguals when compared with monolinguals
• small vocabulary and incorrect grammar
• consciously thinking about language production
• stilted and uncreative with each language
• finding it difficult to think and express emotions in either language

someone equally fluent in two languages across various contexts