'Subject 408/16 thinks that a person who is permanently in contact with (WO tongues does not speek either ofthem correctly. This leads 10a feeling ofinsecurity and may lead ra timidity or even ta an mferiority complex.’ These are the feelings ofone ofthe bilingual European informants, speaking a variety of languages end from different groups end natinnalities, in a questionnaire study by Vildomec (1963:213). Another subject reported rhat ‘there is interference with concentrared and able use of one language', she is ‘always hindered by arrière-pensees or vividness of a partjeular word in another tongue’ (p. 213). The ideas of these two subjects, who undoubtedly will have felt negative effeels from being bilingual, seem 10 reileet a widespread attitude rowards bilingualism in the Western world. Many Western countries are viewed and view themselves as essentially monolingual, although they may actually have many speakers ofother languages within their borders. For instanee, French IS not the only Ianguage spoken in France. There are a!so speakers of Breton, Basque, Dutch (F!emish), German, Arabic and many other languages. Vet France is not a country you think ofwhen you have a multilingual society in mind. Bilingualism is seen as an old-fashioned residue from an earlier age or as a temporary phenornenon, the resulr of immigration. If there is bilingualism, ir is expected 10 fade away, and develop into monolingualism.

Many people are inclined to associate bilingualism with problems: speaking two languages, and not one as ‘normal people’ do, will have derrimental effects on the bilingual individual. In many non-Western counrries, e.g. in Africa and Asia, bilingualism is the norm, and people are surprised 10hear about the negative connotenons ofbilingualism. They may see it as an expression of Western ethnocentrism.

Ir should be noted that in Vildomec's sample there were also subjects who reported posirive efTects of bilingualism: e.g., widening of horizon, increase of mental alertness, and improved grasp ofthe relativity ofall things. Both the positive and the negative view on the consequences of'bilingualism for the individual have been supported by research, although most recent studies have produced evidence on the positive side. In the following sectioris we wilt discuss these views further and the research conneered with them.