Multilingual vs Bilingual: Understanding the Key Differences

Summary:

Do you speak more than one language? If so, you most likely already know that “bilingual” and “multilingual” are common terms for describing individuals who speak two or more languages. But do you know the subtle—and sometimes not so subtle—defining features of each? In this blog, we shed light on the two terms, their respective benefits, and why you should care about the difference.

What Does It Mean to Be Bilingual?

The core meaning of bilingual is someone who can speak, read, and write two languages very well. To achieve bilingualism, you can’t just get by with the kind of proficiency that might let you chitchat in another language; you need an essential level of ability to function in that other language nearly as well as you can in your first one. Bilingualism in this way is not something most people can kind of half do; you’re either able to interact in another language at a pretty significant level, or you’re not.

Bilingual Definition: A person who is bilingual has the capacity to communicate in two languages equally well. This can happen in various situations, for instance:

Bilingualism from Birth: This occurs when a person is exposed to two languages from the very beginning of life, such that they speak both languages at the same time. Simultaneous acquisition at this level leads to most of the properties of native-like bilingualism.

Sequential bilingualism refers to individuals who learn a second language after they have already acquired a first language. This typically happens later in childhood or in adulthood.

Advantages of Bilingualism: The cognitive, social, and cultural benefits of being bilingual are many. Individuals who are bilingual tend to possess superior memories and are better at multitasking. Of course, this might be expected since the very act of switching between languages at the level of the individual word requires as much mental gymnastics as solving an average Rubik’s cube, which is done at a pretty low level of brute-force parallel computing. Better yet, these bilingual benefits are portable and likely to be displayed in domains not directly related to language.

Common Bilingualism: In many countries, individuals converse in two languages with ease. For instance, in Canada, many people converse in both English and French. In regions like the Basque Country or Catalonia in Spain, people converse in both the regional language (Basque, Catalan) and the official language (Spanish).

Being bilingual has its problems. One of these has to do with the demands of certain contexts that call for the individual to negotiate between the two languages. Sometimes we do it seamlessly (if we’re even aware that it’s happening), but other times, we might be conscious of the effort involved and the possible confusion we’re courting. What are we talking about? And are we really saying what we mean to say? Code-switching is bilingualism’s most mixed blessing.

Grasping the dynamics of bilingualism is necessary to comprehend how persons manage the intercultural and interlingual movement of their lives and, indeed, to see human language use writ large. It is my hope that this will also contribute to a more profound understanding of human cognitive development.

What Does It Mean to Be Multilingual?

Having established what bilingual means, let us now explore the phenomenon of being multilingual. This term applies to individuals who not only speak but also read and write in more than two languages. Being multilingual encompasses a far greater realm than bilingualism. It signifies an individual who is not just constitutionally able to know another language but also able to interact competently in three languages or more.

A person who is multilingual has proficiency in many languages. The term “bilingualism” refers to proficiency in two languages, but when we use the term “multilingualism,” we are referring to proficiency in three, four, or more languages.

A widespread misunderstanding is that multilingualism means you can speak several languages quite well. But to be multilingual, you don’t have to be fluent in all you do. You can be multilingual if you have an active command of the few you really do, in whatever combination of speech, reading, and writing sorts you prefer, and interdisciplinary sorts you across academic, personal, and professional domains.

Cognitive and Cultural Benefits: The benefits of multilingualism expand even further compared to bilingualism. Not only are individuals who speak more than two languages skilled in switching between them, but they also have a much broader understanding of the cultural subtleties that lend variation to the same language spoken in different parts of the world. Research shows that multilingualism significantly boosts cognitive flexibility, problem-solving ability, and creativity. It also vastly increases the global opportunities of those who have it and helps them be more culturally empathic by allowing them to identify with all kinds of people from different linguistic backgrounds.

Instances of Multilingualism: It is commonplace to find multilingual people in areas with a variety of languages. Consider India, where citizens speak a mix of Hindi, English, and, often, some sort of regional language—say, Tamil or Bengali. In the European Union, citizens are frequently found to be multilingual. They speak not only their own language but also a medley of others. This might include anything from English to French to German.

Being multilingual is both a blessing and a challenge. One of the main difficulties is maintaining proficiency in all the languages one speaks. A person’s ability to communicate in a language can diminish over time if that language is not used regularly. A multilingual person not only speaks several languages but also juggles between them, sometimes within the same conversation. This is bound to result in some confusion, especially if the individual hasn’t used one of the languages in a while. This confusion is multiplied when the individual tries to go between all the cultural references and idioms that exist in the different languages they speak.

Key Differences Between Multilingual and Bilingual

A cursory look might lead one to think that bilingual and multilingual refer to the same thing. They do not. In fact, bilingual and multilingual signify two quite different ways of being in the world of language. Bi, after all, is a prefix that means two. With bilingualism, one gets to at least function well in two languages. And, oh, by the way, just because a word has a certain denotative meaning doesn’t mean it represents a kind of superiority of one way of getting along in the language world over another.

Number of Languages:

Bilingual: Means being fluent in two languages.

Multilingual: Has proficiency in three or more languages.

Cognitive Differences:

Enhanced cognitive abilities tend to result from bilingualism. For instance, bilinguals often have better memories and perform more effectively when multitasking than do inevitable monolinguals.

Cognitive flexibility is taken to the next level in multilingualism, where one must switch between varied linguistic systems. This can lead to more advanced executive function and even greater creativity.

Cultural and Social Context:

Individuals who speak two languages might manage two distinct cultures and languages at the same time, while those who speak more than two languages engage with many more cultures and languages, usually having to adapt to a pretty large range of settings.

Learning Curve:

People who are bilingual may learn both of their languages at the same time or one after the other. But they almost always do it in a cultural and linguistic context that gives them plenty of exposure to both languages.

On the other hand, multilinguals must learn to manage several languages. This requires more effort, time, and exposure to a diverse range of linguistic environments.

When to Use Bilingual vs. Multilingual Skills Whether you have the ability to speak two languages or more, certain situations call for the use of one talent over the other. Here’s a simple delineation of when to employ each set of skills:

Use Bilingualism:

In nations where two principal languages exist, such as Canada, being bilingual in both English and French provides numerous prospects in realms like governance, pedagogy, and commerce.

In particular workplaces: If you have employment in a region where two languages are used (e.g., the U.S.-Mexico border where English and Spanish are spoken), then being fluent in two languages might serve you better.

If you are in a bilingual family, sustaining second language fluency can enhance personal relationships and enable more nuanced expressions of intimacy and emotion.

Use Multilingualism:

If you are aiming to acquire a career in global business, international diplomacy, or relations on the world stage, knowing several languages gives you a decisive advantage in working with diverse cultures and communities.

In societies with many cultures: In extremely diverse areas, such as Europe or Africa, knowing several languages can assist in moving through different tongues and connecting with much larger sets of people.

While overseas for work or study: Being multilingual enables you to converse with individuals from various nations. This results in a significant level of cultural immersion and understanding.

Conclusion: Harnessing the Power of Proficiency in Language

Both bilingual and multilingual skills confer significant benefits, from enriching cognitive functioning to fostering connections worldwide. While individuals who are bilingual can navigate two languages and cultures with ease, individuals who are multilingual have even more extensive opportunities to communicate and collaborate across a wider swath of our connected global society.

This section on proficiency in a second or third language has two main objectives:

• To differentiate between the two groups (bilinguals and multilinguals) and their respective advantages;

• To highlight the immense value of language proficiency in our interconnected world.