Being Bilingual

Bilingual families use different languages at different times depending on the situation. Different circumstances require them to rely on one or the other, and this can either hinder or benefit them. Length of time knowing a language and frequency of use of the language are major factors in complete knowledge of a given language. Discussed here are several individuals who are bilingual and what the effects of this are on their use of language.

Olympia is a 27-year-old transplant from Paris, France. She was born in Paris, but she lived in London for many years and moved to the United States a few years ago. She is fluent in French and English because of her life growing up in both environments. Interestingly, when she speaks on the phone to her family, she does not pick one language over the other, as her family is also bilingual. Their mastery of both languages keeps her constantly switching back from French to English even within a single sentence. It is very interesting to listen to and shows how mastery of two languages can create a blended use of each.

Jesus works at a Mexican restaurant in the Atlanta area. He is from Mexico and has been in the United States as a resident for five years. His English is still somewhat broken, and it is difficult for him to converse about things beyond the normal chatter in English because of this. He has a good understanding of the way to structure sentences in general, but his vocabulary is what holds him back, which is clear from speaking with him. The more he converses with English speakers, the better he will get over time. He says that he speaks Spanish at home with his family, and some of his family speaks very little English at all, which helps to explain why he hasn’t gotten as much environmental practice as he needs to improve his English.

Magy is another person who came to the United States, though she did not come to the United States until her thirties. She came from Egypt with her husband, and though she learned English in Egypt, she still has a very heavy accent 15 years later. This might be due to her age, as it can be more difficult