Bilingualism and Speech & Language Development: What Matters (and What Doesn’t)
Bilingualism is often surrounded by confusion, especially when it comes to children’s speech and language development. Many parents and educators worry that exposure to more than one language might cause delays or confusion. The short answer is this: bilingualism does not cause speech or language disorders.
But let’s unpack that properly.
What Is Bilingualism?
Bilingualism simply means using two languages in daily life.
This might look like:
One parent speaking one language, the other using another
A home language that differs from the school language
A child switching between languages depending on context
For many children around the world, this is completely normal. Particularly in Malta, bilingualism is automatic. In fact, children tend to have a jargon with an amalgamation of both Maltese and English, highlighting the strong code switching element present in each and everyone one of us.
How Bilingual Language Development Works
Children learning two languages may:
Mix languages in the same sentence
Take slightly longer to build vocabulary in each individual language
Prefer one language over another at times
These are typical patterns, not signs of a disorder.
If you combine both languages, bilingual children often have a total vocabulary comparable to monolingual peers. Interestingly, in a vast set of studies, bilingual children tend to outperform monolinguals on tasks beyond language, including inhibition, task switching, and working memory (Sandgren & Holmström, 2015).
Common Myths About Bilingualism
Let’s address a few of the most common ones.
Myth 1: ‘Bilingualism causes speech delay’
It doesn’t. If a child has a speech or language delay, it would be present regardless of how many languages they are exposed to. In fact, There is no evidence that bilingualism or multilingualism causes speech delays. A recent study found that bilingual children born prematurely showed stronger executive functioning skills, such as attention, linguistic processing, and task-switching, compared to their monolingual peers (Gillenson et al., 223). The findings challenge the misconception that exposure to more than one language causes delays and instead suggest that bilingualism may support cognitive development in preterm-born children.
Myth 2: ‘Children will get confused by two languages’
Children are very capable of learning multiple languages. Mixing languages (sometimes called code-switching) is normal and reflects flexibility, not confusion.
Reducing a child’s exposure to their home language can:
Limit communication with family
Affect emotional connection
Reduce opportunities for meaningful interaction
Instead, support should happen across both languages where possible.
Myth 3: ‘Bilingual children fall behind academically’
Research consistently shows that bilingualism does not harm academic development. In many cases, it supports cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills. A plethora of studies investigating cognition, organisation, and academic performance across life span found that while their linguistic processing is different than their monolingual peers, bilingual peers still tend to outperform their peers (Bialystok, 2011)
When Should You Be Concerned?
Concerns should be based on overall communication, not the number of languages.
For example:
Is the child struggling to understand in both languages?
Are they using very few words across all languages combined?
Is communication impacting daily interaction?
If difficulties appear across both languages, a speech-language assessment may be helpful.
The Role of SLPs in Bilingual Contexts
SLPs play an important role in supporting bilingual individuals.
This includes:
Assessing communication across languages
Distinguishing between difference and disorder
Advising families and educators
Supporting strategies that work in real environments
Culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment is key. A child should not be misidentified as having a disorder simply because they are bilingual.
Practical Takeaways for Parents and Educators
Continue using your strongest language with the child
Focus on meaningful interaction, not ‘perfect’ language use
Encourage communication in all forms
Don’t rush to drop a language out of fear
Get the entire family involved!
Read in both languages
Consistency and rich language exposure matter more than limiting languages.
Final Thought
The goal isn’t to simplify a child’s world by reducing language. Language is more than communication. It’s identity, culture, and connection. Families should feel encouraged to speak the language they are most comfortable and connected with at home, as rich and meaningful communication is far more important than limiting a child to one language. By embracing bilingualism, we help children build stronger connections with their families, communities, and the world around them. If you think your child is not following a typical ageing developmental pattern, do not hesitate to get in touch with a professional. Early intervention is pivotal.
Reference List
Bialystok E. Reshaping the mind: the benefits of bilingualism. Can J Exp Psychol. 2011 Dec;65(4):229-35. doi: 10.1037/a0025406. Epub 2011 Sep 12. PMID: 21910523; PMCID: PMC4341987.
Gillenson, Caroline J. MS; Bagner, Daniel M. PhD; Darcy Mahoney, Ashley PhD, NNP, FAAN; Baralt, Melissa PhD. A Preliminary Study of Executive Functioning in Preterm-Born Children: A Bilingual Advantage. Advances in Neonatal Care 23(6):p E121-E128, December 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000001106
Sandgren O and Holmström K (2015) Executive functions in mono- and bilingual children with language impairment – issues for speech-language pathology. Front. Psychol. 6:1074. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01074
