What is bimodal bilingualism, and provide an example scenario.

• A. Simultaneous exposure to a spoken language and a sign language in early development
• B. Learning two spoken languages from infancy
• C. Using a spoken language with gestures like co-speech gestures but not sign language
• D. Switching between languages only in late childhood

Answer: (A)

Bimodal bilingualism means developing two languages that use different communication modalities—one is spoken and the other is signed—early in development. This typically involves learning a sign language alongside a spoken language, so a person can communicate through signs, speech, or a blend of both.

For example, a child born to Deaf parents learns American Sign Language from birth while also hearing and acquiring spoken English through interactions with hearing family, media, and school. They can switch between signing and speaking, or use both at once, depending on the context and the people they’re with.