MP-Lingualism - It's not what you think!

[hsmr at pacific.net.hk]

Aurolyn

Certainly I do not want to introduce a new term that is of little use
to anyone. The world is already so cluttered with useless definitions.
Nevertheless, I feel a strong need to draw a  line  between what is
bilingual and what is not. Perhaps it would be better to draw it at
that point where native speakers can no longer easily discern, whether
a non-native speaker's L2 is their L1, or not. Then, everything less
would be some degree of mono-plus lingualism, and everything above
would be some degree of bilingualism.

How most people use L2 to communicate, and what language planning
specialists should encourage with regard to L2 are two different
problems.

Certainly where there is need, people will communicate to whatever
extent is necessary to resolve a crucial problem. Nevertheless, if
one's ability to communicate is always hampered by language, one either
finishes by avoiding the resolution of small problems, or one learns
enough of the language to overcome them. Avoiding the resolution of
small problems means absorbing the consequences of non-resolution --
this can be unhealthy, in the absence of other forms of outlet.
Learning a language well, so as to be able to address small problems
easily, on the other hand, is healthy.

Knowing too little of a language not only makes it difficult to
overcome small problems, but it also encourages their creation. It is
natural for humans to want to exercise what they know, and it is
natural for them to want to explore new worlds that become open to them
as a result of that knowledge. It is in this context that one can
easily deceive oneself and wander in too deeply.

In addition, when entire nations of people believe that a little is a
lot, it can lead to extreme frustration on the part of those who truly
do know a lot, because one finds oneself forever banging oneself
against an invisible wall of self-professed knowledge.

I can tell that you have never tried to learn an East Asian language in
East Asia when you write, "I don't think creating (or assuming)
insurmountable communicative barriers between people who don't share
native-level fluency in a common language would do much to promote
healthy social interaction", as this is exactly what is done by most
East Asians with regard to their own native language. It is generally
assumed that foreigners living in East Asia do not learn East Asian
languages, because the languages are considered too difficult by both
native and non-native speakers  alike. Thus, as soon as it becomes
known that one is foreign, and many times before, the selected mode of
speech  by East Asians is English -- no matter the level of proficiency
of the foreign speaker. This presents an enormous barrier for learning
one's host language.

Hamo

R. A. Stegemann
EARTH's Manager and HKLNA-Project Director
EARTH - East Asian Research and Translation in Hong Kong
http://homepage.mac.com/moogoonghwa/earth/
Tel/Fax: 852 2630 0349