Multilingualism refers to using multiple languages either by an individual or community. There is a debate around how much language knowledge is needed - complete mastery or basic skills. Most multilingual speakers fall in between. Learning a second language can either not interfere or replace the first language. Ways of acquiring languages include successively learning one after another, simultaneously learning two from birth, or receptively understanding a language without speaking it. Benefits of multilingualism include personal growth, tolerance of other cultures, job mobility abroad, increased study opportunities, a broader vocabulary, and more employment opportunities.

1. MULTILINGUALISM
By-
Rishabh Kumar – 2012CSB1029
Mohit Jasapara – 2012EEB1059

2. Apprendre une autre langue, c'est comme le commencement d'une autre vie.
- Michel Bouthot

3. • Multilingualism is the act of using polyglotism,
or using multiple languages.
• It can be either used by an individual speaker
or by a community of speakers.

4. SUBJECT OF DEBATE
MAXIMAL DEFINITION
• Complete competence and
mastery like a native
MINIMAL DEFINITION
• Knowledge of basic
grammar and basic
communicative skills
Teaching institutions do not know how much knowledge to impart. Hence
most speakers do not achieve maximally ideal level.
Vivian Cook has argued that most multilingual speakers fall somewhere
between minimal and maximal definitions. Cook calls these people multi-competent.

5. ADDITIVE
• Learning of second language
does not interfere with first
language.
• English speakers in QUEBEC
often learn French to
upgrade business skills.
SUBSTRACTIVE
• Learning of second language
does interfere (replaces)
with first language.
• Successive US immigrant
generations eventually
become monolingual English
speakers.

6. WAYS OF ACQUISITION
SUCCESSIVE SEQUENTIAL RECEPTIVE

7. Successive Bilingualism
• Learning one language after already knowing another.
• Eg. Those who become bilingual as adults or in early life.
Simultaneous Bilingualism
• Learning two languages as “first languages”.
• Speaking no languages at all to speaking two languages directly.
• Eg. Infants exposed to two languages from birth.
Receptive Bilingualism
• Having the ability to understand a second language but not speaking
it or not being able to speak it due to psychological barriers.
• Eg. Children in Mexican immigrant households hear English on TV, in
stores etc., but use their home language (Spanish) in everyday
communication. When they enter preschool or kindergarten, these
children are likely to make rapid progress in English because their
receptive language skills in English has been developed.

9. Personal
Growth
Need Of
Multilingualism
Today
Tolerance &
respect
towards other
cultures
Job Mobility
Abroad Study
Increases
vocabulary &
effectiveness of
speech
Broadens
employment
opportunities