What is the difference between simultaneous bilingualism and sequential bilingualism and give an example of each one

1 answer

Simultaneous bilingualism refers to the development of two languages from birth or early childhood, where a child is exposed to and acquires both languages simultaneously. This occurs when a child is raised in an environment where two languages are regularly spoken, such as when parents or caregivers each speak a different language. The child naturally learns and becomes proficient in both languages at the same time.

Example: A child growing up in a household where the mother speaks English and the father speaks Spanish. The child learns to speak and understand both languages interchangeably from a young age.

Sequential bilingualism, on the other hand, refers to the development of one language first, followed by the acquisition of another language at a later stage in life. This occurs when an individual begins to learn a second language after already having a solid foundation in their first language.

Example: An individual who moves from Germany to the United States as a teenager and learns to speak English fluently after already being proficient in German.