INTRODUCTORY WORKS
The Bilingual Experience: A Book for Parents,
by Eveline de Jong, Cambridge University Press, 1986.
An introductory work written by a Dutch woman, who, in trying to raise her children bilingually in England, began interviewing other two-language families. The book consists mainly of insights the author gleaned from her interviews. Since de Jong is not a linguist, she generally dispenses with theory and deals with a range of practical and emotional concerns without ever getting preachy.
The Bilingual Family: A Handbook for Parents,
by Edith Harding and Philip Riley, Cambridge University Press, 1986.
Written by two linguists who are bringing up their children bilingually, this book offers an easy-to-understand introduction to basic terminology and research on bilingualism, as well as 16 case studies that cover a wide range of families dealing with two languages.
A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism,
by Colin Baker, Multilingual Matters, 1995.
Baker, who has also written many academic books on bilingualism, here answers most of the questions that the parent of a potentially bilingual child would want to ask. He deals supportively with issues of bilingualism and child development, intelligence, reading, schooling and even what the neighbours might think. The book is in question-and-answer form so you can dip in or read it cover to cover.
Raising Children Bilingually: The Pre-School Years,
by Lenore Arnberg, Multilingual Matters, 1987.
This is really a handbook to help parents decide whether or not to try to raise their children bilingually, how high they should set their sights and how they should go about the task if they decide they want to try. Arnberg, as a linguist specialising in bilingualism, is able to present a wide range of research, but always bears her audience (parents) in mind, keeping explanations simple and to the point.
FURTHER READING
Bilingualism: Basic Principles,
by Hugo Baetens Beardsmore, Multilingual Matters, 1986.
Designed for use as a college textbook on the subject. Though not an exciting read, it is a useful introduction to a number of basic problems and concepts related to bilingualism.
Bilingual Children: From Birth to Teens,
by George Saunders, Multilingual Matters, 1988.
This is an updated and expanded version of the first guidebook written to help parents raise their children bilingually. Saunders is an Australian professor of German who raised his sons bilingually by insisting on speaking only German to them, even though Saunders himself is not a native speaker. Though the author does refer to other research, much of this work focuses on the development of his own children's bilinguality.
Language Acquisition of a Bilingual Child:
A Sociolinguistic Perspective,
by Alvino E. Fantini, Multilingual Matters, 1985.
Like Saunders' book, this work focuses on a case study of the author's own son, who was raised in the United States in a home where the author (an Italian-American who was fluent in Spanish) and his wife (a Bolivian who spoke fluent English as well as some Italian and Portuguese) spoke Spanish almost exclusively.
Multilingual Japan,
edited by John C. Mayer and Yashiro Kyoko, Multilingual Matters, 1995.
So you thought Japan was a monolingual country? This book presents a wide range of research on 7 different bilingual groups in Japan: Okinawans, users of English, international families, Koreans, Ainu, Chinese and returnees. There is a long summary and review of Multilingual Japan by Steve McCarty for the JALT Journal online here.
IN JAPANESE
Bairingaru: Sono jitsuzou to mondaiten,
by Yamamoto Masayo, Taishukan shoten, 1991.
This work consists of three parts: a basic introduction to bilingualism, a case study of the author's daughter, who is an English-Japanese bilingual, and a general explanation of bilingualism in Japan, including the author's research on the children of international marriages.
Nihon no bairingarizumu,
edited by John C. Maher and Yashiro Kyoko, Kenkyusha shuppan, 1991.
Following a general introduction to bilingualism, papers explore a number of different types of "bilingualism' in Japan: English in the mass media and as an international scientific language, the bilingualism of returnees (kikokushijo), two-language families, foreign residents (including Koreans), and immigrants, and attempts at revival of the Ainu language.
NEWSLETTERS
Bilingual Japan,
published by JALT's Bilingualism SIG.
Contact: Amanda Gillis-Furutaka (fax 075-705-1044) or see the Bilingualism SIG introduction for ordering information.
A bi-monthly round-up of news, views and information about bilingualism in Japan. Regular features include case studies, book reviews, a research forum, bilingualism in the news and columns about bilingual childraising and children's books.
The Bilingual Family Newsletter,
published by Multilingual Matters, Frankfurt Lodge, Clevedon Hall, Victoria Rd., Clevedon, Avon, UK.
A quarterly newsletter with personal accounts and studies of bilingual families from throughout the world.
The Bilingualism SIG offers eight monographs about various aspects of bilingualism in Japan. Six of the monographs are written in English, one is in Japanese, and one is completely bilingual.
