Cambridge University Press Life as a Bilingual: Knowing and Using Two or More Languages

About half the world's population knows and uses two or more languages in everyday life, and an increasing number of parents are raising their children bilingual. This makes a resource on what it means to become and be bilingual all the more necessary. This book brings together a selection of posts from the author's highly successful Psychology Today blog, grouped by topic into 15 chapters. The topics covered include, among others, what it means to be bilingual, the extent of bilingualism, how someone becomes bilingual, how bilingualism is fostered in the family, the bilingual mind and brain, and bilingualism across the lifespan. It also includes the author's lively interviews with other experts, delving into their research and their own experience as bilinguals. Written in a highly engaging, readable style, this book is suitable for anyone who wants to better understand those who live with two or more languages. Review 'This timely book transforms posts from a highly successful blog across ten years into a readily available, meticulously organized, and carefully annotated exposé of the bilingual person across the lifespan - at once an authoritative resource and a lively narrative of what it means to live with more than one language. An enjoyable read!' Elizabeth Lanza, Professor/ Director Center for Multilingualism in Society across the Lifespan (MultiLing), Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, University of Oslo'An insightful and comprehensive guide to all aspects of the experience of knowing and using more than one language. Grosjean combines his formidable expert knowledge with his first-hand experience into a book that is both informative and entertaining.' Monika S. Schmid, Professor of Linguistics, University of Essex'This book is an extremely digestible resource for the layperson or student first engaging with the topic of bilingualism and for the scholar or professor who seeks a review of the material for research or teaching purposes. It will make a superlative bank of supplementary readings for graduate classes that is sure to stimulate discussion and reflection on the part of students.' Alicia Pousada, retired professor, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras'Written in a clear and engaging style, and yet sharing important research information, Grosjean here answers our many questions as we live and raise families bilingually. By centering life as a bilingual, Grosjean dispels many anxieties produced by monolingual framings, normalizing processes of growing up, living, learning, loving, thinking and ageing bilingually.' Ofelia García, The Graduate Center, City University of New York Book Description A book on those who know and use two or more languages: Who are they? How do they do it? About the Author A bilingual himself, François Grosjean is a world-renowned expert on the topic. He started his academic career at the University of Paris 8 and then taught and completed research in psycholinguistics at Northeastern University in Boston. In 1987, he was appointed professor at Neuchâtel University, Switzerland, where he founded the Language and Speech Processing Laboratory.