What would you consider

[happycc]

to be bilingual /trilingual?

 

How much mastery of each language would you be considered to be bilingual?

[maize]

Comfortably fluent. Languages do not need to be mastered to equal proficiency levels for a person to be multilingual, but the person should be able to converse comfortably about most ordinary topics in a language, to navigate socially and professionally in that language, and preferably to be able to read and write with reasonable competency.

[Arcadia]

A friend used to work as a UN translator which is fun for someone who loves high stress jobs.

 

"United Nations translators are recruited through a rigorous selection process. They translate and revise a wide range of United Nations documents on subjects that require experience and recognized proficiency in such areas of expertise as political, economic, financial, budgetary, administrative and other matters. That is why, in addition to having an in-depth knowledge of several official languages, many translators are also able to master specialized legal, scientific or technical vocabularies and styles. They have excellent writing skills, political sensitivity and a good knowledge of international affairs."

 

For people wanting to apply for the post of California court interpreters

 

"In other words, court interpreters must have 1) a high level of mastery of two languages and 2) specific performance skills in the modes of interpreting. Court interpreters must perform each type of interpreting skillfully enough to include everything that is said, preserve the tone and level of language of the speaker, and neither change nor add anything to what is said.

...

Mastery of two languages at the levels required for court interpreting involves reading and speaking the languages regularly in a wide variety of language contexts and, typically, years of formal education. Acquiring the necessary interpreting performance skills usually involves some combination of aptitude, study, and extensive practice. "

 

For medical interpreters

 

"Oral proficiency in the target language:
One of the following:

• Bachelor, Masters, PhD, or any other degree from an institution of higher education where the target language is spoken
• Graduation from a high school of the country where the target language is spoken
• 24+ semester college credit hours of the target language
• ACTFL Oral Exams (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages): Advanced Mid Level (see www.actfl.org)

Earning the CMI Credential

To be granted a CMI credential individuals must meet all of the eligibility prerequisites and pass BOTH the written and oral examinations. The CMI credential is awarded in the specific languages for which the oral exam is passed (for example CMI-Spanish, or CMI-Korean)."

 

 

Informally, I would just consider anyone who can discuss/debate confidently in two or more languages. Hubby's job require him to be bilingual. My former job requires me to read and write Chinese as well as translate on the spot.

 

ETA:

My kids aren't bilingual. Our aim is for them to be trilingual eventually.

[regentrude]

I consider a person bilingual if the person is fluent in both languages, can participate in on-on-one and group conversations, follow movies without subtitles, follow school lessons/college lectures, conduct daily business, do the writing necessary to participate in daily life, read normal books (i.e. not necessarily highly difficult material - that might be a problem even in the person's own language).

 

Symmetric bilinguality would include a knowledge of technical terms for high school level subjects in both languages - words for math terms, historic periods, literary devices, that sort of stuff. Basically be functional on the same level the person would function in his native language (i.e. no specialized vocabulary the person would not have in his native language - for example, I would not expect a teacher to know medical terms specific to medical professions). The writing abililties in both languages would need to be equivalent.

Most bilingual people are not actually symmetrically bilingual. EsterMaria really stressed this aspect when she wrote about her education.

 

I consider myself bilingual, very close to symmetric.

My kids are bilingual, but their writing abilities are not symmetrically developed; English is by far their stronger language.