6 Multilingualism and Language Contact Free Online FlashCards

What is multilingualism?

Multilingualism is the use or presence of more than one language by an individual or within a community.

Must multilingual speakers be equally fluent in every language?

No. A multilingual speaker may have different levels of fluency and use languages for different purposes, with different people, or in different settings.

How can languages have different roles in a community?

Different languages may serve different roles, such as one being used at home and another in government or education.

What is language contact?

Language contact occurs when speakers of different languages interact.

What is borrowing in language contact?

Borrowing occurs when a word or expression becomes established in another language. English “sushi” is a borrowed word.

What is code-switching?

Code-switching is when a speaker alternates between languages or varieties during a conversation or utterance.

Why might a speaker code-switch?

Speakers may switch languages to address someone, quote another person, emphasize a point, use a familiar expression, or organize a conversation.

Does code-switching by itself show confusion or poor language knowledge?

No. Code-switching is not, by itself, evidence of confusion or inadequate language knowledge.

How does code-switching differ from borrowing?

Code-switching is alternation between languages in an interaction; borrowing is a word that has become part of the receiving language’s shared vocabulary.

What is language shift?

Language shift is when a community increasingly uses one language in place of another; it can sometimes lead to loss of the less-used language.

What can sustained language contact contribute to?

Sustained language contact can contribute to new or changing varieties, including pidgins and creoles in some historical and social contexts.

How should you establish someone’s language preference?

Ask which language or communication method each person prefers; do not assume based on appearance or background.