Speech Development in Children Growing Up With Many Languages

 

When little Maria speaks English to her teacher and Spanish to her grandmother, she showcases linguistic brilliance. She’s part of a growing global trend. According to recent data from UNESCO, more than 50% of the world’s population is bilingual or multilingual. Additionally, in the U.S., about 32% of children speak a language other than English at home. 

This multilingual upbringing isn’t just a charming quirk—it shapes how children think, communicate, and connect. Let’s explore what research tells us about multilingual children and their journey with speech and language.

The Multilingual Advantage

Recent studies bring exciting news for multilingual families. A review of studies published in 2023 found that multilingual children often outperform monolingual peers in executive functioning. These enhanced skills include problem-solving, multitasking, and maintaining focused attention. It’s because switching between languages exercises the brain, much like a mental gym.

Bilingual children are better at tasks requiring mental flexibility, such as adapting to new rules in games. This cognitive boost is often referred to as the “bilingual advantage.” Parents can take comfort in knowing that rather than causing confusion, multilingual environments strengthen their children’s brains in unique ways.

The Path of Speech Development

When babies from multilingual homes start to talk, they might mix words from different languages. A child might say “water bitte” or “más milk.” This natural phenomenon, known as code-switching, is a sign of linguistic creativity rather than confusion, reports Bilinguistics. It shows that children are adeptly pulling from their growing “language toolbox” to express themselves.

While it’s true that multilingual children may begin speaking slightly later than monolingual children, this is temporary. A study published in 2022 confirmed that multilingual children exhibit language skills equal to or better than, their monolingual peers. They are also better at understanding subtle social cues, like knowing when to use a particular language with different people. 

Naturally, there is now a trend to promote learning in home languages. In the US, there is a growing demand for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), reports Ithaca College. This could be owed to the fact that SLPs play a critical role in helping multilingual children overcome speech challenges. They effectively utilize these children’s linguistic strengths to support their progress.

Cultural Identity and Language

Language isn’t just about communication—it’s a cornerstone of cultural identity. A 2023 Pew Research study found children preserving their family’s native language feel a stronger connection to their cultural heritage. This connection fosters self-esteem and pride, which can benefit emotional well-being throughout their lives.

When Maria chats with her grandmother in Spanish, she’s not just practicing her second language. She’s also keeping family traditions alive and is building intergenerational bonds. Multilingualism is a bridge to understanding cultural nuances, family history, and values that shape a child’s worldview.

The preservation of native languages, particularly within indigenous and immigrant families, emphasizes the importance of such multilingual exchanges. Moreover, maintaining a native language can bolster academic performance and cognitive development. It enriches the educational process by integrating cultural and contextual nuances. 

The School Experience

Building on the empirical findings from South Africa, it becomes evident that integrating mother tongue instruction into early education enhances literacy. The approach also serves as a critical leverage point for broader educational success. 

Positive outcomes from the RISE Programme highlight the need for policies supporting mother tongue instruction. These are crucial, especially in linguistically diverse educational systems.

This approach aligns with a growing global recognition of the value of multilingual education. Educators and SLPs alike acknowledge that nurturing a child’s command of multiple languages cultivates a richer cognitive and social development. This paradigm shift reflects an educational philosophy that values diversity as an asset in the learning environment. Besides fostering academic achievement, it enhances student engagement and inclusion in increasingly multicultural classrooms.

Programs like dual-language immersion boost literacy in both English and a second language, offering clear academic advantages. For SLPs or related aspiring professionals, speech pathology leveling programs online offer an accessible way to gain specialized skills. 

Such programs focus on preparing individuals to effectively support multilingual learners and address their unique communication needs. Children in dual-language programs outperform monolingual peers on standardized tests, further validating the importance of these inclusive approaches.

The Role of Parents

Parents are their children’s first and most important language teachers. Experts suggest that speaking your native language at home offers children a strong linguistic foundation. Reading books, singing songs, and engaging in daily conversations expose children to a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures.

Multilingual children who regularly engage in storytelling with their parents have better narrative skills. This means they can get better at structuring their thoughts and expressing ideas—skills that benefit them across all languages.

Supporting Your Multilingual Child

As globalization continues, being multilingual is more valuable than ever. The European Commission reported in 2022 that multilingual individuals have a 25% higher likelihood of securing international job opportunities. It’s normal for parents to worry when their multilingual child’s speech patterns differ from monolingual children. 

Remember, every child follows their own timeline. For example, some multilingual toddlers might understand complex instructions long before they start speaking fluently. 

Creating a rich language environment at home is the best way to support your child. Simple activities like reading bilingual books, playing word games, and involving children in conversations build both vocabulary and confidence. When parents celebrate all the languages their child speaks, children develop a positive attitude toward their multilingual abilities. This pride is critical for long-term success in maintaining multiple languages.

Here are some additional ways to support your children:

• Thematic language days: Designate specific days of the week as “language days”. On that day, make sure everyone in the family communicates only in one of the household’s languages. This can be rotated weekly to ensure that each language gets focused attention.
• Language buddy system: Partner your child with a friend or relative who is a native speaker of the target language. They can have regular playdates or video calls where they speak exclusively in that language.
• Cultural immersion through media: Utilize media in different languages such as films, music, and television shows. Choose content that is age-appropriate and engaging to help your child hear the usage of languages in various contexts. Discuss the content afterward to reinforce comprehension and vocabulary.

FAQs

Does growing up bilingual delay speech development?

Growing up bilingual does not inherently delay speech development. They reach language milestones within the same timeframe as their monolingual peers. However, such children may distribute their vocabulary across both languages, leading to fewer words known in each language individually. It’s a normal phenomenon and is known as “distributed vocabulary.” This should not be mistaken for a delay.

Why do multilingual children mix words from different languages?

Mixing languages, known as code-switching, is a natural part of multilingual speech development. It reflects their creative use of all available linguistic tools to communicate clearly. Far from being a sign of confusion or deficiency, this behavior demonstrates linguistic competence and supports cultural identity.

What is the role of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in supporting multilingual children?

Speech-Language Pathologists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and assessing communication disorders. For multilingual children, they support speech and language development in all the languages the child speaks. Further, they help identify whether a child’s speech challenges stem from normal multilingual development or indicate a speech-language disorder.

Multilingual children aren’t just learning words—they’re gaining tools for creativity, critical thinking, and cross-cultural understanding. While their journey may look different from that of monolingual peers, the destination is worth it. The ability to speak many languages opens doors to diverse perspectives and experiences, enriching their lives in countless ways.