Bilingualism and Biculturalism

bilingualistism and biculturalism ar intertwined terms that have turnd the social regulate of modern familiarity. As e veryday passes by, the dry land keeps getting smaller and we continue conforming to the cultural norms of the ball-shaped society. While bilingualism helps us to keep our internal spoken speech intact, biculturalism reminds of our true roots. In a world with diminish cultural boundary lines, bilingualism and biculturalism are critical factors that help preserve sensations cultural identity. Bilingualism Bilingualism is basically the ability to comprehend and effectively communicate in two talking tos.However, various experts have their own exposition of bilingualism with certain nuances. For instance, a bilingual is one who is recognized as a native speaker by natives of both deliverys, jibe to a French linguist named Thiery (Chan 2). In recent times, the ability to construct and verbalise complete, meaningful sentences is considered adequate for on e to achieve bilingualism. B. Ways to measure bilingualism Bilingualism can be measured by evaluating the level of hyponymy of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in both voice communications.Most bilinguals have superior command all over one lecture compared to the separate, as it is non very plebeian for an individual to have jibe mastery of both languages. Likewise, some bilinguals can understand a language better than they speak it they are normally referred to as receiving bilinguals. It is generally accepted among the linguist community that knowing a minimum of five cat valium words in a language is necessary to carry out effective communication. C. Types of bilingualismVarious types of bilingualism have been strand to exist as linguists continue to study the reasons and methods governing the existence of bilingualism. Sometimes, learning a second language might unfold to the deterioration of ones native language. This nix impact over a persons native language is called as subtractive bilingualism. However, if second language proficiency is achieved without causing any detrimental impact ones amaze tongue, then it is cognize as additive bilingualism. When an individuals communication skills improve in general from the mastery of a second language, it is known as ascendant bilingualism.In countries where nation speaking a certain language are frowned upon, there is a tendency to entomb ones native language owing to the fear of being stigmatized. This phenomenon is known as sieve bilingualism. On the other hand, some nations in the world have two official languages, as a result of having citizenry from polar cultural backgrounds speaking two different languages. Although not all people in the country speak or understand both the languages, such a country is known to exhibit societal bilingualism.Bilingualism can be forkified into infant bilingualism and artificial bilingualism, based on the disposition of acquiring bilin gualism. Infant bilingualism is a native fashion of acquiring both languages simultaneously, right from a very early age when a child begins to talk. This way of acquiring bilingualism would most probably result in one attaining almost equal proficiency in both languages. This is possible when both languages are natural lead off of the childs environment. This usually happens when each parent is a native speaker of one language or if the parents are proficient in both languages.This way, the child finds both languages natural since he/she is exposed to it since birth. Artificial bilingualism is a phenomenon fit to which parents consciously try to pass on a language that is not either of their mother tongues, to the children. This could be a result of societal or cultural hale to speak the language like a native speaker. Artificial bilingualism can have a negative impact if the parents try to force a language that they are not proficient at it, since this could lead the children to form an improper language model.D. Biculturalism Biculturalism enables an individual to possess native-like knowledge of two cultures present in his/her country. Hence, a bicultural person would have the ability to relate to members of both cultures as well as act according to the demands of both cultures. True biculturalism is said to have been achieved if a person inherently feels like a part of both cultures. E. Biculturalism in society Biculturalism usually exists in a country where two different cultures or cultural identities are allowed to freely flourish within the society.It is characterized by widespread occupation of people belong to two diverse cultures. However, true biculturalism cannot exist in a country where one culture is suppressed or discriminated. Bicultural countries have official policies to protect the interest of both cultures. It too facilitates equitable status and rights to people belonging to both cultures without any prejudice. These countries als o celebrate festivals pertaining to both cultures to preserve integrity of both cultures and raise the spirit of togetherness. E. 1 Biculturalism in CanadaCanada follows a policy of official bilingualism as its gives equal status to both position and French in its parliament and courts. This was done to preserve the cultural identity of French communities in Canada, as support for the French language in Canada had weakened and side of meat had become the preferred language in business and politics, by the end of the nineteenth century. As the years passed by, Francophone communities outside of Quebec begun to realize the extinction of their culture was inevitable, unless French-based education was made a top priority.Certain political forces in Quebec had also wanted a separate state during the 1960s. Franco-Albertans living in Quebec called for bilingualism and biculturalism to understand that Canada stayed united. This led to the proclamation of the Official phraseologys Act of 1969 announcing Canada as a bilingual nation (Albertas Francophone Heritage 3). Today, Franco-Albertans are entitled to exclusive French-only education according to rights guaranteed by Bilingualism and Biculturalism Commission, while French is also now used in government offices and hospitals in Alberta.All these developments with regard as to biculturalism have kept Canada together as one nation and led to the revival of the French culture. E. 2 Biculturalism in Australia Australia was originally inhabited only by some(prenominal)(prenominal) indigenous tribes, until the Europeans settlers started to immigrate there. These relatively hot settlers started to control the ethnicity of the immigrants settling down to ensure that Australia had a cultural identity of a British Colony. Until 1973, the governments appoint by the Immigration Restriction Act followed the White Australia policy to keep a check on non-European immigration.The racial injustice perpetrated by the White Australia policy official came to end by passing of the racial Discrimination Act in 1975. Australia started to rigorously follow a bicultural policy similar to Canada, opening its doors to several thousands of immigrants from all over the world. The extent of Australias multicultural policy can be better understood from a 2005 Department of Immigration statistic which reports that forty percent of the contributing workforce in Australia had at to the lowest degree one parent natural outside of Australia, while twenty-five percent of them were not originally born in Australia (Wikiepedia 9).Australian values of mateship centered on equality, loyalty and friendship, have enshrined in its biculturalism policy and given equal rights to all Australian citizens irrespective of their ethnicity. Multiculturalism was initially perceived as the acceptance of people coming from different cultural backgrounds as members of Australian society. However, the significance of biculturalism has n ow deepened and empowered immigrants in Australia to express their cultural identity, thereby enabling them to experience both Australian culture as well as their native culture. E.3 Biculturalism in the United States the States, in spite of being one of most culturally diverse nations in the world and built on values of equality, does not officially have a federal multiculturalism policy. That being said, America does practices biculturalism on a social level as immigrants from various countries are freely allowed to practice their devotion and exhibit their cultural identity. The Hart-Cellar Act of 1965 nullified quotas based on ones national origin. Since then, more twenty twenty-eight million people immigrants have legally been accepted by the United States of America.Bilingualism is also prevalent is certain Southern states that are heavily populated with Spanish-speaking immigrants. F. The relationship of bilingualism to biculturalism Bilingualism and biculturalism are conce pts that are very closely tied together. Bilingualism not only helps one to connect and effectively communicate with the society around him/her, but also enables a person to maintain command over his/her native language. Since language is the key to stay in touch with ones ethic or national culture, bilingualism helps comfort biculturalism as well.F. 1. Origin of bilingualism in bicultural societies Canada was one of the pioneers of the New World to officially adopt the policy of bilingualism. In 1867, British North America Act was passed to legalize to conversing in English as well as French in Canadian Parliament as well as Courts of Law, thereby paving the way for a bicultural state. As the worlds political climate began to change during the beginning of the twentieth century, the head of cultural pluralism started to gain momentum.Biculturalism began in western world and paved the way for biculturalism to be adopted as a political policy in many other parts of the world. F. 2. Bilingual education Bilingual education is a method of teaching all subjects to students through a countrys first language as well as the students native language. There are several types of approaches and programs available to carry out bilingual education. Transitional programs teach all subjects in the students native language and English is taught as a separate subject until bilingual students can study along with other native students in normal classrooms.Dual Language programs consist of an equal combination of students who are native English speakers as well students who have some other common native language. These methods enable all students in the class to be bilingual and understand subject matter in both languages. Late-exit program is yet another method that is quite similar to transitional programs, but it also teaches all the subjects in English once again to reinforce the subject content and achieve effective bilingualism. It is hard to generalize and develop a c ommon plan to educate bilingual students.For instance, in the US, young immigrants are either more educated or less educated native-born American students since immigrants from Asian countries are relatively well-educated compared to their South American counterparts, as a result of to social and economic differences. Language maintenance and Language shift Language maintenance is an effort to preserve the linguistic ability of child in his/her native language, while not compromising on learning the popular secondary language at school. It is can result from a passion for ones culture or a necessity to communicate with elder members in the family.Career prospects due to international acclaim or the availability of media services such as television programs or books in ones native could also cause language maintenance. The avoidance of ones native language is known as language shift. For instance, bilingual children may stop using their mother tongue owing to a higher degree of Engli sh exposure in school. Other factors that influence language shift are fear of ones native language negatively influencing their English language skills or learning abilities.Lack of parental encouragement to maintain ones native language can also lead to language shift. G. Transference Transference breathes when a persons native language negatively influences the way he/she uses another language or vice-versa. This influence can occur in the form of distinctive oral expressions i. e. accent or odd sentence compositions. It is classified into lexical, phonological, semantic, prosodic, tonemic, syntactical and pragmatic transferences.CONCLUSIONThe concepts of bilingualism and biculturalism are two critical aspects that have held together societies comprising of several cultures, languages, races and ethnic backgrounds. Since transference or the deviation from the norms of a language could lead to language shift, proper bilingual education has to be provided to ensure that one is com fortable using both languages. Bilingualism, the preservation of ones native language accompany by command over a countrys primary language, is necessary to achieve biculturalism in a society as well retaining ones true cultural identity.References A explore Guide for Students. (1998-2006). Retrieved jar against 20, 2008. http//www. aresearchguide. com/1steps. html Bilingualism and Biculturalism. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from Albertas Francophone Heritage. http//www. edukits. ca/francophone/en/secondary/infomatics_text_bilingualism. html Chan, K. (1998). Bilingualism and Biculturalism. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from Academia. http//www. geocities. com/goktimus/bilingualism. html Multiculturalism. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia. http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Multiculturalism