Bilingualism refers to the ability to speak and understand two languages. There are different types of bilingualism, including sign languages combined with spoken languages, or the ability to read a language without speaking it. Being bilingual means having ability in two languages within the same modality (such as two spoken languages) or across different modalities (such as a sign language and spoken language). While the definition of bilingualism is debated, it generally requires more than just reading or writing in another language. Child bilingualism is believed to provide benefits such as enabling communication across cultures, but some argue it could retard development of the native language or cognitive skills.

1. What is Bilingualism?
A previously held thought: A person who is able to speak and understand 2 languages is a
bilingual
 Sign languages along with ordinary speech-type languages
 Reading written form of a language without understanding or speaking the same
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Different Varieties Bilingualism are as following:
Sign language and Speech-based languages
Two speech based languages
As a result a Bilingual is:
 Therefore, a person is bilingual if she/he knows(a): two languages in the same modality
(b): two languages based on different modalities
 Nevertheless, despite controversies on variables to determine the required skills so as to
be called ‘’bilingual’’, it is agreed upon the fact that reading and writing in another
language may not denote bilingualism.
 Also, ‘’ Bidalectalism” might not be deemed bilingualism despite mere differences
between dialects across regions.
Child Bilingualism Vs Adult Bilingualism
 Linguistic Development Stages in Children
 Surge of research pivoted round children for their flexibility
 A clear-cut understanding of concept of language on the part of adults.(Virginia Collier
1989)
It is believed to be both detrimental and beneficial, but how?
 The first group contend that it bears much value since it:
 Enables us to communicate with other cultures
 Facilitates communications even inside some countries like Canada ,Switzerland
However, it can be source of cultural colonization, some believe, and thus is banned by
tyrannical regimes such as North Korea or the Soviet Union(former USSR)

2. Detriments
 Learning 2nd language at early ages would (a)retard or negatively influence the learning
of native language or (b) intellectually retard the development of thinking and of such
cognitive capacities as mathematics and reading
 On the other hand, Most of the criticisms leveled against bilingualism at early ages were
owing to the naïve conceptions and experimental methodologies