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Multilingualism
Multilingualism is the ability to speak more than one language. The ability to speak two languages is "bilingualism," a type of multilingualism. Many immigrants are bilingual and speak languages of both their old and their new country. Multilingualism is useful in many kinds of work, partly because international trade is more common than in past centuries. Some countries and organizations having more than one official language hire people who speak more than one, so they can work with more people.
Most people have a first language that they learned as babies. Other languages are usually learned much later.
Some linguists think there are more multilingual people in the world than monolingual people, who speak only one language[1][2]
People who can speak several languages are called "polyglots". Those who can speak many, such as Heinrich Schliemann and Ghil'ad Zuckermann, are called "hyperpolyglots".[3]
See also[edit]
- Code-switching
- Diglossia
- European Parliament - uses many languages
- Multialphabetism
- Multiculturalism
- Second language
References[edit]
- ↑ "Multilingual People - Are you a polyglot?". ilanguages.org. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ↑ Tucker, G. Richard (August 1999). "A Global Perspective on Bilingualism". Carnegie Mellon University.
- ↑ Are You a Hyperpolyglot? The Secrets of Language Superlearners, The author of Babel No More explains what it takes to become super-multilingual. By Katy Steinmetz, Jan. 30, 2012.