Conference
Tongue-Tied: Bilingualism and First Language Loss
Author
- Brenda Vargas (Iowa State University)
Abstract
Bilinguals are not inferior to monolinguals; however, there still exist various stereotypes against bilinguals, which ranges from the claim that hearing two or more languages in childhood causes language disorder and language delay to the idea that bilinguals are slow learners and losers in life.
This session shows that in order to fit themselves into school and society, some young bilinguals begin to learn English, using their home languages less until they gradually lose them totally: the phenomenon of first language loss. We will show that first language loss is not a "necessary or inevitable outcome" when children acquire a second language.