The Power of Inherited Language in Multilingual Adults. Survey Study

Abstract

The considerations in this article are focused on the phenomenon of widespread multilingualism in Europe and the increasing number of multilingual adults. A language biography was used as a research tool to access languages in dreams, prayer and thought. The study was conducted on 68 multilingual people. The following results were obtained: regardless of the bilinguals’ age and country of residence, inheritance languages appear in the majority of the respondents (50/68) in dreams. An even greater proportion in favour of inheritance languages was observed in relation to the language of prayer or thought (50/60). The study confirms the hypothesis that inheritance language is a reservoir of childhood experiences and resurfaces actively in emotional and personal activities performed by bilinguals.The considerations in this article are focused on the phenomenon of widespread multilingualism in Europe and the increasing number of multilingual adults. A language biography was used as a research tool to access languages in dreams, prayer and thought. The study was conducted on 68 multilingual people. The following results were obtained: regardless of the bilinguals’ age and country of residence, inheritance languages appear in the majority of the respondents (50/68) in dreams. An even greater proportion in favour of inheritance languages was observed in relation to the language of prayer or thought (50/60). The study confirms the hypothesis that inheritance language is a reservoir of childhood experiences and resurfaces actively in emotional and personal activities performed by bilinguals