The Bilingual Phenomenon: Perspectives and Trends in Bilingualism

Abstract

One of the most unique features of the contemporary world is the emphasis placed on the acquisition of a second language as a guarantee of competitiveness in an increasingly globalized world. This has led the world's governments to develop plans to promote bilingualism. In 2004, the Ministry of National Education of Colombia designed the National Bilingual Programme (NBP) and stipulated guidelines and objectives for its implementation at the local level in the country. This paper is part of the preliminary phase of a research study on bilingualism in Colombia funded by the University of La Salle. Initially, there is a theoretical review of the definition of bilingualism. Subsequently, bilingualism is analyzed from two perspectives that study it from its influence on mental processes and its relation to the social structure of a community: psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. Finally, there is a description of some of the trends that have emerged in relation to the development of bilingual education.