This bachelor's thesis wants to give an insight into the life of three bilingual children and the underlying theory of bilingualism. First of all, there will be given a general overview about the theoretical background of bilingualism. Next, the case study itself will be presented and after introducing the family and their special situation in relation to bilingualism, the aims, methodology and materials of the study will be described. Subsequently, the results of the case study will be brought into relation with the underlying linguistic theory. At the end of the paper, the results of the case study will be summarized once again and further implications of bilingual acquisition will be made.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 The Meaning of Bilingualism in the 21st Century
1.2 What Is Exactly Meant by “Bilingualism”?
1.3 Reasons for Choosing Bilingualism as the Topic of my Thesis
1.4 Outline of the Paper
2. Theoretical Background of Bilingualism
2.1 Current Status of Research
2.2 Categorization of Bilinguals
2.2.1 Categorization According to the Age of the Speaker
2.2.2 Categorization According to Skills
2.2.3 Other Possibilities of Categorization
2.3 One Person – One Language
2.4 Interference and Code-mixing/-switching in Bilingual Acquisition
2.4.1 Different Types of Interferences
2.4.2 Code-Mixing and -Switching
3. The Case Study
3.1 Introduction of the Family and Their Special Situation
3.2 Design of the Case Study
3.2.1 Aim
3.2.2 Methodology and Material
3.3 Results of the Case Study Related to Linguistic Theory
3.3.1 Categorization of the Children
3.3.2 Abilities in the Four Basic Language Skills
3.3.3 Interferences and Code-Mixing
4. Findings with Respect to the Four Questions and Further Thoughts
Objectives & Core Themes
This thesis examines the linguistic development and bilingual status of three children raised in a German-English environment. The research aims to evaluate their proficiency in their nondominant language (English), investigate the presence of interference and code-mixing despite minimal active usage, and determine whether school-related difficulties can be attributed to their bilingual upbringing.
- Categorization of bilingual children based on age and skill proficiency.
- Analysis of the 'one person – one language' principle and its practical challenges.
- Examination of language denial and the impact of parental interaction strategies.
- Documentation of phonological, syntactic, and lexical interferences in a case study context.
- Evaluation of the relationship between bilingualism and academic performance.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Introduction of the Family and Their Special Situation
After the theoretical background of bilingualism, which shall serve as the basis for the now following case study, the family used for my study shall now be introduced. It consists of the two parents, married and living together – which is not implicit nowadays – and their three children. The mother of the family is 44 and her husband is 40. Both of them are native Germans, but the mother only speaks English with the children, while the father speaks German, respectively German with a Bavarian, Upper Palatinate accent. When the couple is talking to each other, they are both speaking German with a Bavarian accent and to relatives, as to relatives and acquaintances. The reason why the mother is talking English to the children is the following: The couple has lived in London for one year, seven weeks after the eldest son (12;610 and called Son1 in the following), was born and that’s when the mother first started to speak English with her firstborn. She continued to do so when they returned back to Germany. Thus, she produced ‘unnatural bilingualism’ – speaking English without being a native speaker. Nevertheless, some of Son 1’s first words were then even English, e.g. he always wanted to have his mother’s ‘keys’. With five years of age, Son1 spent a year in another English speaking country as well, namely the U.S, where he attended elementary school.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Defines bilingualism in the 21st century and outlines the motivation and methodology of this specific case study.
2. Theoretical Background of Bilingualism: Provides a comprehensive overview of existing research, categories of bilingualism, and the mechanics of language interference and mixing.
3. The Case Study: Introduces the subject family, the research design, and the qualitative analysis of the children's language performance.
4. Findings with Respect to the Four Questions and Further Thoughts: Synthesizes the empirical findings to answer the core research questions and offers reflections on future bilingual education.
Keywords
Bilingualism, Language Acquisition, Case Study, Code-Switching, Code-Mixing, Interference, First Language Acquisition, Second Language Acquisition, Dominant Language, Nondominant Language, Language Denial, Language Proficiency, Phonology, Syntax, Psycholinguistics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
The paper focuses on a case study of three children raised in a German-English bilingual household, analyzing their language proficiency, usage patterns, and the challenges they face regarding their nondominant language.
What are the primary themes discussed in the thesis?
Key themes include the categorization of bilinguals, the "one person – one language" strategy, the occurrence of interferences and code-mixing, and factors contributing to language denial.
What is the central research question?
The research explores how these children are categorized as bilinguals, why they experience language denial, whether they utilize interferences or code-mixing despite low usage, and if their school struggles are linked to their bilingual upbringing.
Which scientific methods were employed for this study?
The author utilized a qualitative case study method, incorporating extensive audio recordings of family interactions, observations, and an analysis of the children's school-related English language tests.
What is the main subject matter of the main chapters?
The chapters cover the theoretical framework of bilingualism, the background of the specific family involved, the detailed design of the case study, and an evaluation of the results related to their linguistic skills.
What key terms are essential for understanding this work?
Essential terms include "simultaneous bilingualism," "dominant/nondominant language," "interference," "code-mixing," and "language denial."
How does the author define "unnatural bilingualism"?
The term describes a scenario where a non-native speaker (the mother) consistently speaks a foreign language (English) to her children, a strategy the author examines in relation to the children's language proficiency.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding school performance?
The author concludes that school difficulties are likely not caused by bilingualism, noting that such challenges occur in monolinguals as well, and suggests that other factors like genetic issues or school system transitions play a more significant role.
- Quote paper
- Bakkalaureus (B.A.) Katharina Hirmer (Author), 2012, Growing Up With Two Languages, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/199862
