Bilingual Families

Bilingualism is the ability to communicate in two different languages. In some countries it is typical for families to learn and speak two or more languages. In the United States, English is the dominant language, and some families also speak a native or “heritage” language. In many ways, bilingualism becomes a defining characteristic for these families, having a positive effect on parenting, mealtime conversation, socialization, and general family interactions. If bilingual families choose to immigrate to a monolingual foreign nation, the families not only have to face the challenges of learning a new culture but also may encounter difficulty preserving their native language, which plays a key role in maintaining communication with people from the country of origin. However, based on the vital linguistic diversity ...