A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Potsdam has highlighted the remarkable multilingual capabilities of Ghanaian infants, demonstrating that many children in Accra are exposed to between two to six languages from an early age. This research sheds light on the rich linguistic environment that shapes language acquisition in non-Western contexts.
Key Findings:
- Diverse Language Exposure: The study examined 121 infants aged three to twelve months in Accra, revealing that these babies encounter a variety of languages in their daily lives. Most of the children interact with multiple carers, ranging from two to six individuals who typically communicate with them in different languages.
- Direct vs. Indirect Language Input: A significant distinction was found between direct and indirect language exposure. Local languages such as Akan, Ga, and Ewe are primarily learned through direct communication with carer, while English is mostly acquired through indirect exposure via media such as television and radio. This suggests that both forms of input are essential for language development.
- Challenging Western Assumptions: The findings challenge the traditional Western perspective that children learn primarily from a single carer. The researchers emphasize that the vibrant multilingual environment in Ghana provides a diverse set of linguistic inputs that significantly influence a child’s language development.
- Implications for Language Research: The study calls for a broader understanding of multilingualism that reflects the complexities found in various cultural settings. It argues that multilingualism is not merely an advantage but a fundamental aspect of identity and social structure for many children in Ghana.
- Importance of Indirect Input: The researchers highlighted the role of indirect language input in urban environments, indicating that media and background conversations can contribute significantly to language acquisition, especially in multicultural contexts.
This research underscores the dynamic nature of multilingualism in Ghana, suggesting that exposure to multiple languages is a norm rather than an exception, and it is crucial for understanding language development in diverse cultural contexts.
For more details, you can read the full article here: How many languages can you learn at the same time? – Ghanaian babies grow up speaking two to six languages.
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