Contents

#### **Preface XI**


Preface

cultural pluralism.

Bilingualism and multilingualism as the object and subject of scientific inquiry is an enigmatic and intriguing phenomenon. Bilingualism is indeed phenomenal (in the etymological sense of the word), in that even though so much research is done and so much knowledge is generated on bilingualism and multilingualism, there is still so much that is unknown and so much to be

Who would have thought, several decades ago, that bilingualism as the ability to use two or more languages confers on the bilingual individual cognitive advantages over the monolingual individ‐ ual that makes bilingualism not only palatable but desirable and, indeed, indispensable? Today, the avalanche of empirical evidence of research findings to this effect, presented in this book, makes an assertion that bilinguals have enormous competitive advantages over monolinguals in

In the Europe of yesteryears, the paradigm of "one nation one language" (the monolingual habi‐ tus) was so dominant and fashionable as a nation-building ideology that multilingualism was considered a curse, a demon that had to be exorcised. This led to the voluntary and involuntary endangerment, attrition, or death of minority languages. Today, the abundance of research find‐ ings of advantages for multilingualism or societal bilingualism has led to a rethinking of the issue. This, coupled with considerations and acknowledgement of the value of language, any language and every language as an invaluable treasure of the manifestation of the human mind and human knowledge whose loss or death impoverishes humanity immeasurably, has led today to the de‐ construction of the paradigm of monolingual habitus by the European Union's language policies

The nine chapters of this book provide elucidations of the issue of benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism and further provide original research findings on developments in the areas of psychological dimensions of bilingualism and bilingualism in information retrieval systems. Thus, there is still so much to be learned and to be known about the phenomenon of bilingualism and multilingualism to make another book, this book, relevant, worthwhile, and necessary. It is preceded by an introduction containing topics that mirror the issues discussed in the book.

The section presents the benefits of bilingualism to the individual and the advantages of multilin‐ gualism to society and the nation followed by two case studies of multilingualism: aspects of bi‐ lingualism and multilingualism in Europe and the evaluation of achievements of bilingual policy in Columbia, South America. The section establishes the benefits of bilingualism and multilin‐ gualism, and the case studies that follow examine how, considering the phenomenon of bilingual‐ ism as a desirable "good," nations (in Europe and Latin America) accommodate what appears ostensibly as the adverse side effects of an otherwise useful and much-needed medication for the arduous but rewarding task of nation building within an ideological paradigm of linguistic and

in favor of linguistic diversity and the preservation of rights for minority languages.

**Section II: Advantages and Case Studies of Bilingualism and Multilingualism**

known that the much we know about bilingualism may not be much after all.

the educational system, an incontrovertible fact.

Chapter 8 **Cross-Lingual and Cross-Chronological Information Access to Multilingual Historical Documents 143** Biligsaikhan Batjargal

#### Chapter 9 **Innovative Multilingual CAPTCHA Based on Handwritten Characteristics 163** Maha Hamad Aldosari
