additive bilingualism

the sociolinguistic situation in which a second language is adopted by a speech community without threatening the status of the first language. For example, most English-speaking Canadians learn French in order to gain access to prestige jobs that require bilingualism but continue to use English as their main language. This contrasts with subtractive bilingualism, in which the second language comes to replace the functions of the first language. The bilingualism of many immigrant communities is considered subtractive, resulting in language shift within one or two generations.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

ChEI

abbreviation for cholinesterase inhibitor.