Bimodal bilingualism

Bimodal bilingualism refers to the ability to use at least one oral language and at least one sign language, which utilize two different modalities. An oral language consists of a vocal-aural modality versus a signed language which consists of a visual-spatial modality. Bimodal bilingualism can arise from several circumstances such as hearing children raised in Deaf families, Deaf individuals who use sign as their primary language and then also learn a spoken or written language, or they are exposed to both modalities through family, education, or community. Because speech and sign utilize different modality systems, bimodal bilinguals are able to produce and perceive a spoken and a signed language simultaneously compared to those who are unimodal. Unimodal bilinguals are only able to perceive a spoken language at a given time. Research on bimodal bilingualism focuses on how the two languages are acquired, how they interact cognitively and how individuals manage both languages in communication. Topics commonly discussed include developmental neural pathways for Deaf and hearing Children of Deaf Adults (CODAs), patterns of code-blending and code-switching, sociolinguistic experiences within the Deaf community, and cross-modal influences on grammatical structure.

Also addressed below: the range of language proficiencies among bimodal bilinguals, current perspectives in neurolinguistics, common misconceptions about bimodal bilingualism, and ongoing debates about terminology, educational policies, and language access.

In discussions of multilingualism in the United States, bimodal bilingualism and bimodal bilinguals have often not been mentioned or even considered. However, bimodal bilinguals share many of the same traits as other bilinguals (those with competency in at least two spoken languages), as well as differing in some interesting ways, due to the unique characteristics of the Deaf community. Bimodal bilinguals also experience neurological benefits similar to those that unimodal bilinguals do (see Cognitive effects of bilingualism).