by Madalena Cruz-Ferreira
2010.
See book reviews at http://beingmultilingual.blogspot.com/p/multilinguals-are-book-reviews_27.html
Multilinguals are people who use several languages in their everyday life. Most people around the world are... more
Multilinguals are people who use several languages in their everyday life. Most people around the world are multilinguals, although awareness about multilinguals has only recently stepped into the limelight wherever several languages are used, from London and Amsterdam to New York and California. Being a fresh focus of attention, multilinguals arouse attitudes which are extremely diverse: some consider them gifted or unusually intelligent, while others fear that they lack competence in any one language. This can lead to conflicting advice about multilingual education, language policies, and multilingualism itself at home, in school, and in speech-language clinics.
This is the first book which discusses, in lay terms, the reasons behind the beliefs and myths traditionally associated with multilinguals. It is written for the general public and is relevant for families, teachers, and anyone who ever wondered about multilingualism. The style is light, often witty, but founded on a thorough knowledge of solid academic research on this subject. The book is abundantly illustrated and includes many cartoons.
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