Analysis of a Questionnaire Survey on Language Loss in Multilingual Speakers

Abstract

"Bi/multilingual" is often used to describe people who are fluent in more than one language, but this does not mean such people can remain so unconditionally. Many suffer from the loss of acquired language due to various environmental changes after their prolonged status as returnees, upon returning from study abroad, or domestic educational background. This paper observes the language items reported as lost in a questionnaire survey on language loss among multilingual people. We also analyze measures to prevent language loss and uncover clues to factors that make acquisition difficult for second language learners. "Loss after language acquisition" refers to long-term loss, which is when a person cannot use a particular language more fluently than before. Many of the survey respondents indicated they noticed a difference in the ease of use between languages and that some languages were being lost to them. Since some of the language items in the survey showed characteristics related to language loss, we will focus on factors related to language loss and the process of language acquisition.