Life as a Bilingual
Knowing and Using Two or More Languages

A book on those who know and use two or more languages: Who are they? How do they do it?

François Grosjean (Author)

9781108838641, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 June 2021

352 pages, 5 b/w illus.
23.6 x 15.7 x 2.4 cm, 0.63 kg

'Written in a clear and engaging style, and yet sharing important research information, Grosjean here answers our many questions as we live and raise families bilingually. By centering life as a bilingual, Grosjean dispels many anxieties produced by monolingual framings, normalizing processes of growing up, living, learning, loving, thinking and ageing bilingually.' Ofelia García, The Graduate Center, City University of New York

About half the world's population knows and uses two or more languages in everyday life, and an increasing number of parents are raising their children bilingual. This makes a resource on what it means to become and be bilingual all the more necessary. This book brings together a selection of posts from the author's highly successful Psychology Today blog, grouped by topic into 15 chapters. The topics covered include, among others, what it means to be bilingual, the extent of bilingualism, how someone becomes bilingual, how bilingualism is fostered in the family, the bilingual mind and brain, and bilingualism across the lifespan. It also includes the author's lively interviews with other experts, delving into their research and their own experience as bilinguals. Written in a highly engaging, readable style, this book is suitable for anyone who wants to better understand those who live with two or more languages.

1. Describing Bilinguals
2. The Extent of Bilingualism
3. Using Two or More Languages
4. Across the Lifespan
5. Becoming Bilingual
6. Bilingualism in the Family
7. Children with Additional Needs
8. Second Language Learning
9. Biculturalism and Personality
10. When the Heart Speaks
11. Language Processing
12. The Bilingual Mind
13. The Bilingual Brain
14. Special Bilinguals
15. Reminiscing
Index.

Subject Areas: Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR], Bilingualism & multilingualism [CFDM], Language acquisition [CFDC]