bilingualism
Americannoun
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the ability to speak two languages fluently.
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the habitual use of two languages.
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(in Canada) a national policy supporting the use of both official languages (French and English) by various means, such as mandatory bilingual product labeling, compulsory teaching of both languages in schools, the guarantee of publicly funded schools in the minority official language where numbers warrant, and the delivery of government services in both languages.
Usage
What does bilingualism mean? Bilingualism is the ability to speak or understand two languages or the regular use of two languages. The adjective bilingual is most commonly used to describe someone who can speak or understand two languages, especially with some level of fluency. It can also be used to describe things that involve or that are written or spoken in two languages, as in These instructions are bilingual—they’re written in English and Spanish. The similar terms trilingualism and multilingualism are used in the same way, with trilingualism indicating the use of three languages and multilingualism indicating the use of more than two and especially several languages. Monolingualism refers to the use of only one language. In Canada, bilingualism is used in a more specific way to refer to a government-supported program to encourage all citizens to learn both English and French. Example: Our kids’ school supports bilingualism both for students with two natives languages and students who are learning a second language.
Etymology
Origin of bilingualism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bilingualism also affects white matter, a fatty substance that covers axons, which are the main projections coming out from neurons to connect them to other neurons.
From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2018
The government has taken some steps to address the issue of language, which sparked the crisis, setting up the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism last year.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2018
Bilingualism Matters is working to encourage businesses to consider the benefits of their staff learning languages.
From The Guardian • Mar. 12, 2016
“It was obviously astute for Cason to do this,” said María Eva Mansfeld de Agüero, a member of the National Bilingualism Commission.
From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2012
Bilingualism must thus be considered as a solution of the language question in Belgium in the fifteenth century.
From Belgium From the Roman Invasion to the Present Day by Cammaerts, Emile
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
