Multilingualism

Overview
What is multilingualism?
Multilingual signs
Multilingualism & UNESCO
Multilingualism in European Parliament
How did multilingual communities evolve?
Involuntary Migration
Multilingualism in Northern Europe
Voluntary Multilingualism in USA
Migration from Towns to Cities
Multilingualism & Conquests
Multilingualism in the Muslim World
Colonialism and Multilingualism
References
What is multilingualism?
Multilingualism is the act of using polyglotism, or using multiple languages, either by an individual
speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the
world's population. The ability of an individual speaker or a community of speakers to use multiple
languages. Contrast with monolingualism, the ability to use only one language.
Multilingual Regions
India
There are 23 official languages in India (Including Hindi and English). The largest, Hindi, is spoken
natively by 40% of the population. English is also widely used, although mainly in urban parts of the
country. An Indian with a high-school education would generally be bilingual speaking his or her own
native language, in addition to English, with varying fluency, possibly Hindi as well, the languages being
compulsorily (in select states) taught in most schools and colleges. See Languages of India.
Singapore
Singapore: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay and Tamil are all official languages. While Malay is the
national language, English is the main language used in Singapore. As English links the different races, a
group with diverse races communicate using English. Most of the population can speak, read and write
in English. In addition to English, many Singaporeans can speak their respective ethnic language fairly
well, as it is a compulsory subject in school. In Chinese communities, the older generation usually speak
their own dialects besides Mandarin and/or English. Learning another language is becoming popular in
many schools and Japanese, French or German are usually the choices.
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian) are the official and most widely-spoken languages.
Other minor languages include Uzbek and Turkmen, Balochi and Pashayi, Nuristani (Ashkunu, Kamkata-
viri, Vasi-vari, Tregami and Kalasha-ala), Pamiri (Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi and Wakhi), Brahui, Hindko,
Kyrgyz
Switzerland has four national languages; German, French, Italian and Romansh.The cantons Valais,
Fribourg and Bern are bilingual (French and German), while canton Graubnden is trilingual (German,
Romansh and Italian).
Multilingual Signs
UNESCO and multilingualism
UNESCO promotes linguistic diversity and multilingualism
UNESCO says: Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social
integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and the planet. There is
growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and
intercultural dialogue, but also in attaining quality education for all and strengthening cooperation, in
building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage, and in mobilizing political will for
applying the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development.
It is thus urgent to take action to encourage broad and international commitment to promoting
multilingualism and linguistic diversity, including the safeguarding of endangered languages.
Multilingualism in the European Parliament
In the European Parliament, all official languages are equally important: all parliamentary documents
are published in all the official languages of the European Union (EU) and all Members of the European
Parliament (MEP) have the right to speak in the official language of their choice. It also ensures everyone
is able to follow and access the Parliaments work.

Spolsky p.51

Involuntary Migration

Fijian Sugar Plantations



Multilingualism in Northern Europe

Voluntary Multilingualism in USA


Migration from Towns to Cities

Multilingualism & Conquests




Multilingualism in the Muslim World

Colonialism & Multilingualism


Plurilingualism
In recent years, the concept of plurilingualism has grown in importance in the Council of Europes
approach to language learning. Plurilingualism differs from multilingualism, which is the knowledge of a
number of languages, or the co-existence of different languages in a given country. Multilingualism may
be attained by simply diversifying the languages on offer in a particular school or educational system , or
by encountering pupils to learn more than one language , or reducing the dominant position of English
in international communication.
Beyond this, the plurilingual approach emphasizes the fact that as an individual persons experience of
in its cultural contexts expand s, from the language of the home to that of the society at large and then
to the languages of other peoples(whether learnt at school or college , or by direct experience ), he or
she does not keep these languages and cultures in strictly separated mental compartments, but rather
builds up a communicative competence to which all knowledge and experience of language contributes
and in which languages interrelate and interact. In different situations, a person can call flexibly upon
different parts of this competence to achieve effective communication with a particular interlocutor. For
instance, partners may switch from one language or dialect to another, exploiting the ability of each to
express themselves in one language and to understand the other .(p.4)
References
Spolsky.B. ( 2003) Sociolinguistics. Oxford: Oxford UP