Multilingualism - Meaning, Nature and Scope

Multilingualism - Meaning, Nature ,Scope , Characteristics and role of teacher

1. Multilingualism Suresh Babu G Assistant Professor

2. Multilingualism - Meaning Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers . The word “Multilingualism” is derived from two words, “multi” and “lingual”. “Multi” means two or more and “lingual” means “language”.

3. A person who can speak multiple languages is known as a multilingual. Multilingual education typically refers to first language first education ,i.e. Schooling which begins in the mother tongue and transition to additional language. Multilingualism - Meaning

4. Definition According to Pearce ,”Multilingualism is the use of several languages by an individual or society. sometimes bilinguals are described as multilingual but usually the term is reserved for speakers or socio linguistic situations in which more than two languages are used”. Multilingualism is the natural potential available to every normal human being rather than unusual exception: “Given the appropriate environment, two language are as normal as two lungs” (Cook 2002)

5. Multilingualism – Indian context India is a multilingual country. There are more than 1700 language which are spoken as mother tongue in India

6. Multilingualism – Nature Multilingualism is universal in nature. It is purely based on the needs of society. It may be forced or voluntary. It may be additive and subtractive. It is promoted or given to an individual by society. It is will full. It is also caused due to migration of people. It spread more at social linguistic level instead of individual level.

7. Scope of Multilingualism Multilingualism is not just limited to a specific field. It touches every aspect of human life, it’s scope is very large which can be studied as follows: Education is imparted through multilingualism because of multilingual society. Personally we are multilingual. Our constitution provides us more than two language to use for administration.

8. Our judicial system use various language. Our society use different language – it is the need of society. For the improvement of profession we need different language. For good jobs and for the improvement of business. Scope of Multilingualism

9. Characteristics of multilingual classroom There is a diversity of languages . Free opportunity to increase the knowledge . Creates the feelings of Global citizenship . Learning process is complex and time consuming . Growth of knowledge and liberal attitudes of the students.

10. ROLE OF TEACHER Teachers need to first in the liberal mindset. Teachers will encourage students to learn another language . Teachers can organize on students own language . Teachers can arrange songs , dance drama , recitation of different activities.