Language ability consists of two divisions, namely Active and Passive part. Speaking and Writing belong to the Active part while Listening and Reading belong to the Passive part. Those who are bilinguals have balanced skills, thus most bilinguals around the globe, know and utilize their languages in varying proportion, depending on their circumstances. Having an easier time when traveling, watching movies without subtitle, having healthier brain are several benefits of being a bilingual or multilingual.
Bilinguals can be classified into three general types. Firstly, Compound Bilinguals, those who develop two linguistic codes simultaneously. Meaning that acquiring and using two languages naturally due to the environment condition. A kid who migrates from one country to another country then acquires both languages of those nations. Coordinate Bilingual is the second type. Those in this type, work with two concepts of language. For instance, they use English in the school but utilize Spanish to speak with friends and at home. The last type is Subordinate Bilingual. The people that categorize into this type are mostly the elderly who have already acquired their first language. They tend to apply the second language by filtering it to their primary language.
Related to those previous conditions, a critical period hypothesis states that children are easier to acquire languages due to the plasticity of their developing brain. This research also highlights that learning multiple language is good to avoid Alzheimer and Dementia. Bilingualism might not be able to make people smarter, but makes brain healthier, complex and actively engaged.
Bilinguals can be classified into three general types. Firstly, Compound Bilinguals, those who develop two linguistic codes simultaneously. Meaning that acquiring and using two languages naturally due to the environment condition. A kid who migrates from one country to another country then acquires both languages of those nations. Coordinate Bilingual is the second type. Those in this type, work with two concepts of language. For instance, they use English in the school but utilize Spanish to speak with friends and at home. The last type is Subordinate Bilingual. The people that categorize into this type are mostly the elderly who have already acquired their first language. They tend to apply the second language by filtering it to their primary language.
Related to those previous conditions, a critical period hypothesis states that children are easier to acquire languages due to the plasticity of their developing brain. This research also highlights that learning multiple language is good to avoid Alzheimer and Dementia. Bilingualism might not be able to make people smarter, but makes brain healthier, complex and actively engaged.
