A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBLE DRAWBACKS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD BILINGUALISM

Abstract

The cognitive, social, and cultural advantages of bilingualism are frequently praised. However, studies in developmental psychology and linguistics have found some disadvantages to early sequential or simultaneous bilingualism. This thesis critically investigates the potential drawbacks, such as academic difficulties in early schooling, code-switching, language delay, and a smaller vocabulary in each language. While noting that these impacts are frequently transient or context-dependent, it takes into account neurocognitive, sociolinguistic, and pedagogical viewpoints based on actual research. The study comes to the conclusion that while bilingualism has many known long-term benefits, early exposure can cause short-term scholastic and developmental difficulties that call for specialized pedagogical assistance.