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A Sociocognitive Model of Bilingual Development

Laval University

The present article proposes a theoretical approach to bilingual development that is in line with general guidelines on language behavior. Aswe view bilingual development as a particular case of language development we first present a general approach to language development. We argue that language development is dependent upon a number of prerequisites; this includes socialization processes, the development of the functions for which language will be used, and the existence of language-behavior models in the child’s environment. The principal feature of this model is that it attempts to take simultaneously into account a macrological analysis at the societal level, a micrological analysis at the individual level and the interface between both. In accordance with the Bates and MacWhinney approach, we suggest that language develops through a constant formfunction, form-form, and function-function mapping. We apply this approach to bilinguality and analyze a number of case studies of bilingual development.

Key Words: bilingual development • bilinguality • languages in contact • child bilingualism

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