Mitmekeelsus

Mitmekeelsus (multilingualism) is the ability to use and understand more than one language, or the presence of multiple languages within a community or institution. At the level of an individual, it means speaking, listening, reading, and writing in two or more languages. At the societal level, it describes language diversity in a population, the coexistence of languages in education, media, administration, and public life.

There are different angles of mitmekeelsus: individual and societal; additive bilingualism where additional languages complement the first, and subtractive bilingualism where the second language replaces the first. Functional multilingualism describes language use across domains such as home, school, workplace, and public services. Code-switching and diglossia are common phenomena in multilingual settings.

In Estonia and Europe, mitmekeelsus is influenced by language policy and demographic change. Estonia promotes Estonian as the official state language while protecting minority languages, notably Russian. Education systems often provide bilingual or multilingual options; public services may be available in several languages, particularly in urban areas or regions with notable minority communities. Global mobility and migration have expanded language repertoires in many countries.

Impacts and debates. Research on multilingualism reports possible cognitive benefits related to executive control, as well as educational and economic advantages from broader job opportunities and social networks. Challenges include maintaining minority languages, ensuring equitable access to services, and preventing language erosion in younger generations.

Measurement and study. Researchers assess mitmekeelsus through self-report surveys, standardized language proficiency tests, and analyses of language use in daily life and institutions. The concept intersects linguistics, psychology, education, and public policy.