Multilingualism: What Does It Really Mean to Be Multilingual?

By Iyana

I’m sure there are a lot of us who can’t decide on a single thing to do or learn, so you end up multitasking. Sometimes you might even learn too many things at once and end up struggling with balancing it all. This also applies to language learning, especially when it comes to learning multiple languages at the same time.

But First: How Do We Define Multilingualism and Fluency?

Normally, when you say you can speak X language, people think that you’re perfectly fluent. But then, the question arises: what does it mean to be ‘Fluent’? To have perfect speaking, writing, and reading skills? That definition would be wrong. There are languages which aren’t spoken, languages which aren’t written, and if some languages aren’t written, then they can’t be read. It varies from language to language. The Oxford dictionary states the meaning of Fluency as:

• the ability to speak or write a foreign language easily and accurately

• the ability to express oneself easily and articulately

If that’s the one and only definition of fluency, then “within a range” should be added to it since there are exceptions when it comes to most of these aspects.

Opportunities for Being Multilingual

Being able to speak and understand another foreign language also brings the opportunity to live and work abroad, experience new cultures first-hand, mental growth, and personal development. For example, if you want to study abroad, some universities have a minimum language level requirement. If you don’t meet that requirement, you would need to learn the language for a period of time beforehand to have a chance at admission. Being multilingual can also prove to be useful in your career. We are connected to the rest of the world more than ever due to globalization, and you never know when another language could be useful for your workplace. A lot of large companies have branches in multiple countries so knowing an additional language is a bonus. Lastly, even just learning a language because you enjoy it is incredibly helpful in keeping your mind active. Think of your brain as a muscle – the more you exercise it, the better it gets. Just be mindful not to overwhelm yourself and set appropriate expectations for your language learning.

The Personal Effects of Multilingualism

To examine why and how people learn languages, we ran a survey in the Language Cafe Discord server (link to join at the end). Here are the most common responses:

• Self-esteem was affected both positively and negatively when starting to learn other languages

• Being extremely happy that they know more than one language

• A lot of people are indifferent to the methods they use for learning languages

• People learned the language they heard around them as they were growing up, and some were grateful that their parents forced them to learn their heritage language

• Not being able to speak one’s heritage language at a highly fluent level takes a negative toll on some people’s mental health and self-esteem. This could be because they don’t feel connected to their culture or cannot connect as they’d like to with the native speakers and family members

• For languages that aren’t as popular, many people mentioned that it is hard to find resources and information about them. This can be frustrating when comparing their experience with learners of more popular languages

• Some people might end up with negative feelings about the languages they’re learning or they know because they were forced to learn them

Multilingualism offers a range of global opportunities, including the ability to study abroad and excel in a global job market. On a personal level, it can boost self-esteem and happiness but can also lead to frustration, especially for less popular languages.

Ultimately, multilingualism is a personal journey that enriches communication skills, broadens horizons, and connects individuals to a global community of diverse cultures and perspectives. Whether pursued for career prospects, personal growth, or sheer enjoyment, multilingualism transcends mere fluency to offer a gateway to a more interconnected and culturally enriched world.