by Sophia Moore and Xena Wang
So Many Languages.
With over thousands of languages in existence, it is no surprise that many individuals speak more than one. Sociolinguist Carol Myers-Scotton, in her book Multiple Voices, defines bilingualism as “the ability to use two or more languages sufficiently to carry on a limited casual conversation”. [1] In order to investigate the different implications of bilingualism with regards to the self and others in a social context, we conducted two surveys within the college-aged community of Swarthmore College.
In this post, we explore how bilingualism affects linguistic diversity: variations in all aspects of languages, including grammars, vocabularies, dialects, and languages themselves. Our study looked at the relationship between thought and speech patterns, and the different ways in which bilinguals’ speech styles differ depending on the language used. We examined the diverse ways people process language with the self (internally) and with others (externally), and how these differences contribute to linguistic diversity as a whole. By contributing to the overall diversity of the human population, linguistic diversity helps with the formation of new ideas or solutions to problems in relationships or larger societal issues, and aids in forging a unique identity within a community of language speakers.
In this post, we explore how bilingualism affects linguistic diversity: variations in all aspects of languages, including grammars, vocabularies, dialects, and languages themselves. Our study looked at the relationship between thought and speech patterns, and the different ways in which bilinguals’ speech styles differ depending on the language used. We examined the diverse ways people process language with the self (internally) and with others (externally), and how these differences contribute to linguistic diversity as a whole. By contributing to the overall diversity of the human population, linguistic diversity helps with the formation of new ideas or solutions to problems in relationships or larger societal issues, and aids in forging a unique identity within a community of language speakers.
Dreams, Culture, and Context.
Our survey findings suggest that interviewees generally dreamt in their native language, even if in other contexts when using a second language (L2), they thought in that L2. This is especially true if they were able to communicate competently (able to use language accurately and appropriately in given circumstances) [2] in their L2. Since dreaming is a subconscious internal process, we hypothesized that an individual has very little control over their dreams and the language used in them. This means that the language they dream in is generally the language they are most comfortable with.
There were some exceptions to this, however. One individual dreamt in pictures, and another dreamt in the language that she associated the topic of her dream with. When this participant dreamt about her family, her dreams were in Korean, whereas others were in English. Given that she only speaks to her family in Korean, the language that she dreams in correlates with the context of her language use when she is awake. The variety in people’s dreams is an indication of linguistic diversity. The subconscious language used in individuals’ dreams is unique to them, due to the users’ varied levels of proficiency in their multiple languages. Also, the way that they think about language differs between individuals as well. Furthermore, some people thought in the language they were speaking, yet dreamt in another, indicating a preference for the language they dreamt in.
There were some exceptions to this, however. One individual dreamt in pictures, and another dreamt in the language that she associated the topic of her dream with. When this participant dreamt about her family, her dreams were in Korean, whereas others were in English. Given that she only speaks to her family in Korean, the language that she dreams in correlates with the context of her language use when she is awake. The variety in people’s dreams is an indication of linguistic diversity. The subconscious language used in individuals’ dreams is unique to them, due to the users’ varied levels of proficiency in their multiple languages. Also, the way that they think about language differs between individuals as well. Furthermore, some people thought in the language they were speaking, yet dreamt in another, indicating a preference for the language they dreamt in.
Culture and Linguistic Diversity.
Regarding linguistic diversity, there seemed to be a cultural component concerning the way in which individuals spoke to their peers in English versus other languages. An English-Japanese speaker stated that in any unfamiliar social context (in which the circumstances at hand determine when an individual uses a language, and for what purpose they use it), [3] she always begins by using the most formal terms in her respective languages. Because Japanese operates on an honorific system, she employs formal speech to show politeness and “play it safe” when talking to anyone new or unfamiliar -- even a peer who is a stranger -- before she believes she achieved enough familiarity to descend into a casual form of speaking. As Myers-Scotton put it, a speaker’s choice of marked usage (the appropriateness of using language in a given situation) is “a comment on how [a] speaker views the situation and may want the others to view it”. [4] Since English does not have the same honorific system, the participant did not have to concern herself with trying to portray themselves as “formal” or “polite” as she does in Japanese.
Interestingly enough, an English-Spanish speaker said that using Spanish allowed him to act more spontaneously. This is not to say that he was less “polite” than the Japanese speaker, but he did not concentrate on the propriety of language use in Spanish, feeling that he could be “looser” in his speech. His unrestrained personality does not convey as well when he uses English. Myers-Scotton states that:
Our survey findings illustrate how the languages each speaker used determined the level of formality, and therefore how linguistic diversity impacts interactions on a sociocultural level.
Interestingly enough, an English-Spanish speaker said that using Spanish allowed him to act more spontaneously. This is not to say that he was less “polite” than the Japanese speaker, but he did not concentrate on the propriety of language use in Spanish, feeling that he could be “looser” in his speech. His unrestrained personality does not convey as well when he uses English. Myers-Scotton states that:
- “every person perceives him- or herself as having more than one identity and is not always seen by others in the same identity; different identities are conveyed by speaking different languages”. [5]
Our survey findings illustrate how the languages each speaker used determined the level of formality, and therefore how linguistic diversity impacts interactions on a sociocultural level.
Internal and External Processing.
The internal mental processes individuals use are separate from the external social ones. This distinction between internal and external processes is a component of linguistic diversity, and therefore contributes to unique ways of expressing ideas. One participant, for example, dreamt in pictures, but communicated in English. This means that his visual thoughts probably lead to the cultivation of different ideas than people who thought in words. People who think in full sentences may also come to conclusions separate from others. If we consider the conclusion that people speak to varying degrees of formality in different languages, they may come to cross-cultural conclusions due to their familiarity with multiple languages and the fact that they think in one language yet speak in another. These conclusions may be grounds for the creation of new and unique ideas, be they artistic, political, personal or otherwise.
Concluding Thoughts.
Our survey findings emphasize the importance of linguistic diversity. The language used affected the relationship to self in subconscious dreaming and thoughts. For speaking, the type of language impacted the formality in the relationship. Our studies found that bilingualism affects not only the number of languages one is communicatively competent in, but also impacts associated factors such as self-representation. Ultimately, the value of linguistic diversity in bilinguals lies in the fact that it contributes to the formation of individual identities through speech, and to the creation of new ideas as a result of the combination of unique mental and social processes.
References.
[1] Myers-Scotton, Carol. Multiple voices: an introduction to bilingualism. 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2005.
[2] Saville-Troike, Muriel. “Basic Terms, Concepts, and Issues.” The Ethnography of Communication, 3rd ed., Blackwell Publishing, 2003.
[3] Hornberger, N.H. “Trámites and Transportes: The Acquisition of Second Language Communicative Competence for One Speech Event in Puno, Peru.” Applied Linguistics, vol. 10, no. 2, 1989, pp. 214-230.
[4] Myers-Scotton, Carol. Multiple voices: an introduction to bilingualism. 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2005.
[2] Saville-Troike, Muriel. “Basic Terms, Concepts, and Issues.” The Ethnography of Communication, 3rd ed., Blackwell Publishing, 2003.
[3] Hornberger, N.H. “Trámites and Transportes: The Acquisition of Second Language Communicative Competence for One Speech Event in Puno, Peru.” Applied Linguistics, vol. 10, no. 2, 1989, pp. 214-230.
[4] Myers-Scotton, Carol. Multiple voices: an introduction to bilingualism. 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2005.
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