25. The Impact of Bilingualism on Language and Literacy Development
- Tej K. Bhatia,
- William C. Ritchie
Published Online: 3 OCT 2012
DOI: 10.1002/9781118332382.ch25
Copyright © 2013 Blackwell Publishing, Ltd
Book Title
The Handbook of Bilingualism and Multilingualism, Second Edition
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bialystok, E. (2012) The Impact of Bilingualism on Language and Literacy Development, in The Handbook of Bilingualism and Multilingualism, Second Edition (eds T. K. Bhatia and W. C. Ritchie), John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK. doi: 10.1002/9781118332382.ch25
Editor Information
Syracuse University, USA
Publication History
- Published Online: 3 OCT 2012
- Published Print: 7 NOV 2012
Book Series:
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9781444334906
Online ISBN: 9781118332382
- Summary
- Chapter
- References
Keywords:
- bilingualism;
- language learning;
- literacy skills;
- metalinguistic awareness
Summary
Children's early concepts are learned through their verbal experiences, knowledge is codified in a linguistic form, and communication defines every aspect of development. Conducting these interactions and learning about the world through two linguistic systems has no effect on the trajectory of development for bilingual children. This chapter explores one aspect of the potential developmental impact of that experience – the development of metalinguistic and literacy skills. It explores the way that bilingualism may alter the manner or rate at which children develop metalinguistic concepts of language and the background skills and early abilities required for reading. The influence of bilingualism on development may have some of its greatest impact in the development of early literacy skills in young children.