No, Bilingualism Does not Delay Language Acquisition!
The literature on bilingualism and its influence on language acquisition in children is one of nuance and complexity. The assumption that growing up bilingual might delay language acquisition is a topic of much debate within the academic and educational communities. Proponents of this view suggest that children exposed to two languages from an early age might experience initial confusion, which could potentially defer the mastery of either language. The reasoning behind this hypothesis lies in the premise that the linguistic input from two different languages could overload the cognitive capacities of young learners, causing a lag in the language development process. It is observed that in certain contexts, bilingual children may indeed begin speaking slightly later than their monolingual peers, which is seen by some as a delay in acquisition.
However, this perspective doesn’t account for the broader cognitive and linguistic context in which bilingual children are learning language. More contemporary research has demonstrated that any perceived delay in language acquisition is typically temporary and non-detrimental. Bilingual children often catch up to their monolingual peers in primary language milestones by the time they enter school environments. The process of differentiating and assimilating two language systems can take additional time, but this should not be misconstrued as a deficiency. Instead, it can be seen as a complex process of cognitive sorting and filing, where the child’s brain is laying down a more intricate linguistic foundation.
Furthermore, the concept of a delay in language acquisition is often based on monolingual standards. When bilingual children’s language competencies are assessed in both languages, they often meet or exceed monolingual norms when both languages are considered together. Therefore, the initial slower pace in linguistic expression in each individual language may not be indicative of a delay but a redistribution of linguistic resources. Bilingual children are not merely learning vocabulary and syntax; they are also mastering the ability to switch between linguistic systems, an additional cognitive task that monolingual children do not encounter.
Moreover, it is essential to distinguish between the acquisition of language as a communicative tool and the mastery of specific linguistic domains such as grammar and vocabulary. While bilingual children may exhibit variability in specific language domains, their ability to communicate effectively is typically on par with monolinguals. The perceived delay is often in the acquisition of specific grammatical rules or vocabulary breadth, not in the fundamental ability to use language for communication. The dual-language context provides a unique linguistic environment where certain aspects of language may be acquired at different paces, influenced by the child’s exposure to each language.
In conclusion, the preponderance of evidence suggests that growing up bilingual does not cause a long-term delay in language acquisition. While there may be variations in the developmental timeline, these are often temporary and part of a natural process where children are adapting to a linguistically rich environment. Bilingualism provides a unique set of cognitive and linguistic skills that, far from hindering development, enriches it. Therefore, the notion of a delay in language acquisition among bilingual children is a misinterpretation of the complex, yet normative, patterns of bilingual development.
References
✦ Bialystok, E. (2001). Bilingualism in Development: Language, Literacy, and Cognition. Cambridge University Press.
✦ Bialystok, E., Luk, G., & Kwan, E. (2005). Bilingualism, biliteracy, and learning to read: Interactions among languages and writing systems. Scientific Studies of Reading, 9(1), 43–61.
✦ Bialystok, E., Craik, F. I., & Luk, G. (2009). Cognitive control and lexical access in younger and older bilinguals. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 35(4), 859.
✦ Cummins, J. (1981). The role of primary language development in promoting educational success for language minority students. Schooling and language minority students: A theoretical framework.
✦ De Houwer, A. (2009). Bilingual First Language Acquisition. Multilingual Matters.
✦ Genesee, F., Paradis, J., & Crago, M. B. (2004). Dual language development & disorders: A handbook on bilingualism & second language learning. Brookes Publishing.
✦ Meisel, J. M. (2004). The Bilingual Child. In T. K. Bhatia & W. C. Ritchie (Eds.), The Handbook of Bilingualism (pp. 91–113). Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
✦ Paradis, J., Genesee, F., & Crago, M. B. (2011). Dual Language Development and Disorders: A Handbook on Bilingualism and Second Language Learning, Second Edition. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
