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multilingual-matters.com>Bilingual Family Newsletter Vol. 16:4, 1999 PASSIVE BILINGUALISM - Lucia's Story Domenico Maceri When we think of bilingualism we initially envision equal ability in two languages which allows an individual to communicate very well in both languages and feel equally comfortable in both cultures. That is not quite true, however. In my entire life of dealing with languages at the personal and professional level I have only met one person who gave me the impression of fitting this definition of bilingualism. Most people who speak two languages are 'stronger' in one than another. The four skills typically associated with linguistic fluency - speaking, understanding, reading and writing - are seldom at the same level. Sometimes one or more of these four skills is totally lacking. Yet, even if just one of these skills is acquired, it's still worthwhile. My daughter Lucia is a case in point. Born in the US to a mother whose native language is English and to a father who spoke Italian as a child, she has acquired English very well but at the same time she can also comprehend spoken Italian. She is 'bilingual' although clearly, because of our particular geographic situation, English easily became the dominant language for her. RECENT RESEARCH The Benefits of a Less Well Developed Second Language Colin Baker For many parents, however caring and careful, the chance of their children having two well developed languages is not high. Full bilingualism is not tenable for all parents. The reality for many parents is that the child will have more experience of one language rather than the other. BOOK REVIEW Reviewed by Stephen M. Ryan Cunningham-Andersson, U. & Andersson, S. (1999) Growing Up with Two Languages: A Practical Guide. London: Routledge.155 pp. ISBN 0-415-21257-X (pbk) price pounds 8.99 Quite simply, this is a book about what it is like to have two languages in one family, written by people who have done it for people looking for advice about what it is like. It offers the wisdom of experience and the reassurance of those who have gone before. YOU ARE NO FUN - I'll talk to mum instead! Laura Sager Most parents agree that for a successful bilingual upbringing, parents' consistency in using their language is absolutely crucial. There must be a need for the child to keep using the minority language. If the minority language parent responds to both languages, the child will soon realise that the community language is the more effective one and consequently stop speaking the other one. .... If the father is the transmitter of the other language, extra effort is necessary since he usually spends only the evenings with the child. NEWS FROM THE USA Rescuing Endangered Languages by James Crawford Americans' paranoia about language diversity has always struck me as ironic. Why waste time and energy promoting English-only legislation when other tongues are dying of 'natural' causes? Now more than ever, the United States deserves its reputation as a graveyard of languages..... This rapid erosion of the language has shocked the Navajo Nation and its semi-autonomous government into action. Numerous educational projects are getting under way to reverse the trend. COPING WITH OUR STARS by Michael Rosanova In BFN Vol. 16, No. 2, Linda Lloyd from Switzerland recounted the heroic efforts undertaken by her and her husband, an Irish-English couple, whose two children were born in Belgium but the family now lives in Switzerland. Their older child Stephanie had a history of language development problems and 'blockage' against French. 'Finally, on the advice of one psychologist... I started speaking French at home. Within six months, Stephanie started speaking French. The problem was that, one year further on, she felt better in French than in English, and has systematically been reluctant to speak in English ever since.' recounts Linda Lloyd. Both of her children are 'very hesitant in both languages', and they 'tend to be denigrated by the teachers for their lack of ability in expression.' After fourteen years of experience as the founder of a Montessori foreign language immersion school and as the parent of two bilingual children of my own, I can only applaud the Lloyds' perseverance. The dramatic improvement in Stephanie's French when Mrs Lloyd began to speak French at home is evidence that in some cases 'artificial bilingualism' (Mrs Lloyd's native language is not French) is not only permissible but critically important. By modelling the integration of French and English in the home, Mrs Lloyd was opening up a path for Stephanie. LETTERS Comments on Husband against the minority language (letter in the BFN Vol. 16:3, 1999). Anne Price, Corsham, England. QUESTION Should I switch my language to support my children ? by Heidi Sjblom-Zass Answer by Colin Baker Prices: A subscription to the Bilingual Family Newsletter costs 10 or USD18. - Kathryn King Multilingual Matters Ltd Frankfurt Lodge, Clevedon Hall Victoria Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7HH, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1275-876519; Fax: +44 (0) 1275-871673 Email: kathrynMail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue