Bilingualism
What Is Bilingualism?
Should I speak to my child in two languages? Can this cause any issues I should be concerned with? Will my bilingual child’s speech and language development be affected? If you’re a parent raising a bilingual child, it’s completely normal to have questions like these. Bilingualism in Canada is incredibly common. The ability to speak more than one language can be very valuable in later social, academic, and professional aspects of life. Specific benefits of bilingualism include greater access to people and resources, more creativity and better complex problem-solving abilities, and a higher ability to focus attention on relevant information.
What language should I speak to my child?
Answer: The language you know best!
In order to provide the proper language model for your child, it is recommended that you speak to them in the language you are most proficient in. The same goes for other family members in the household or those that your child interacts with on a regular basis.
There are different ways and times that your child can learn two languages. A child might learn two languages at the same time as they grow. For example, Farsi at home and English at daycare or preschool. This is known as simultaneous acquisition. When a child learns a second language after the first one is well-established, this is called sequential acquisition. Both of these are considered “normal” and not harmful to a child’s speech and language development.
What can I expect as my child learns two languages?
Children learning more than one language can be expected to reach speech and language milestones close to the same time as monolingual children. Sometimes language milestones are met slightly later for bilingual children, though still within the same range. This includes saying their first word around 12 months, combining two words to form phrases (like “hi mommy”) at 24 months, and having a vocabulary close to 1,000 words by age 3.
One misconception is that raising a child to speak more than one language can cause them to have a learning disorder or result in stuttering. Current research does not support this, so no need to worry.
It’s important to note there are some differences in language learning. First, a bilingual child may not say as many words in English as a child who speaks English only. However, the combination of their vocabulary in both languages spoken typically equals or exceeds that of an English-only speaking peer. You might find that your bilingual child mixes grammar rules from both languages while learning to talk. Or, that they include words from both languages within the same sentence (known as “Code Switching”). It’s all part of typical language development for bilingual children.
What if my bilingual child has a speech and language delay?
Let’s debunk one very common myth: If I am concerned my child has a speech and language delay, then I should only teach them one language.
Children can learn multiple languages well when they learn them at a young age, at the time typical language development occurs. Speaking to your child in a language you may not know as well won’t provide them with the best model of grammar or how to form sentences. That can even have a negative impact on your child’s language skills.
If you are concerned with your bilingual child’s speech and language development, a Speech Therapist can conduct an evaluation or assessment to determine if they have a language disorder. An evaluation with a bilingual Speech Therapist is recommended. If one is not available, an interpreter will be used. Our team of bilingual Speech Therapists (English and Farsi speaking) will provide recommendations on how to promote speech and language skills in both languages your child is learning. If speech therapy is recommended, the therapist can give parents continued tools to use at home to support dual language learning and would be happy to answer your questions based on knowing both languages and cultures.