“Won’t they get confused?”
“Won’t they mix the languages?”
“I don’t speak Italian to my child because I’m afraid they’ll get confused.”
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard these questions or statements… I’d really be well off by now!
One of the main concerns that comes up when talking about multilingualism in children is, you guessed it, confusion. In multilingual contexts, it is very common to hear words from different languages in the same sentence, or for a child to respond in a different language from the one they are being addressed in. These phenomena are common, well documented, and absolutely “normal.” However, they can be “confusing” (pun totally intended!) for those who are not regularly around multilingual children.
Let’s take a closer look at this topic and debunk a myth which often leads to anxiety and worry. And let us, instead, make room for the kind of awareness that will allow us to embark on multilingual journey with greater confidence and serenity.
How Does the Multilingual Brain Work?
The multilingual brain does not “separate” languages into watertight compartments; on the contrary, it manages them in parallel. When children are exposed to two or more languages, their brains build a single, integrated linguistic system.
This process is coordinated by the language control system: a network of cognitive functions that helps the brain select the most appropriate language for a given context, interlocutor, and situation. (Improvements in executive functions are, in fact, one of the benefits of multilingualism, which we have already discussed on this blog.)
In younger children, this system is still developing. For this reason, it may happen that they respond in a language different from the one they are addressed in, or that they draw on linguistic resources from more than one language within the same utterance (language transfer or linguistic interference).
These phenomena are often a source of concern for adults, but they are neither signs of confusion nor of delay. Quite simply, children use the words that are most readily available to them at that moment in order to make themselves understood, especially when their vocabulary is still developing. Over time, and with consistent and meaningful exposure, these phenomena tend to decrease and/or become more intentional and controlled.
How Many Languages Can a Child Learn in Early Childhood?
Another common question, closely linked to the issue of confusion, is whether there is a limit to the number of languages a child can learn from an early age. In early childhood, the brain is particularly receptive and can be exposed to multiple languages at the same time. But just how many?
Simona Montanari, a Professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies at California State University, stated that:
There is no research on children growing up with four, five, or six languages. In general, because we know that input is so important, we want to make sure that the child has at least a certain level of language development to support cognitive development. If the child was hearing five or six languages and had only a few words in each, he might not have enough to really be able to develop.
You want the child to be, at least in one language, at a level where other children would be, even if monolingual or bilingual, et cetera. So I would discourage from exposing the child to speakers of five or six languages from birth, because I would feel that then the child would not build a foundation in any of these languages. And so, I would say, try to focus maybe on three at most, and then you can later on, when the child is somewhat proficient in one language at least, introduce other languages later on.1
Keeping in mind that current research mainly focuses on children who speak two languages, while those who speak three or more languages are underrepresented, Montanari argues that it is possible to manage three languages from early childhood and achieve adequate linguistic and cognitive development.
My own personal experience as a mother of trilingual children, who speak Italian, English, and Cantonese fluently, confirms this view.
More than the number of languages, however, what truly makes the difference is the quality of exposure.
The most effective way to pass on one or more languages is for them to be part of a meaningful relationship with one or more significant people, for exposure to be consistent over the long term, and for the language input to be rich, accurate, and varied.
No to Confusion, Yes to Confidence!
So, does speaking more than one language create confusion in children? The answer is no: children’s brains are fully capable of managing multiple languages from early childhood. What truly makes the difference is high-quality linguistic exposure over time, embedded in meaningful relationships.
I hope this article has helped clarify things and dispel some doubts 🙂
If you are still unsure about your family’s multilingual situation, book a free introductory call with me and find out how I can support you on this journey!
- From an interview with Simona Montanari, in Can a Child Learn Three Languages at Once?, Kletsheads Podcast, Episode 8, Season 1 by Sharon Unsworth. The excerpt was slightly edited for clarity. ↩︎
