What problems might a bilingual society face?

Answer

Along with two languages come two cultures. For example, Belgium, where there are both French and Dutch cultures. Communication is not a problem since most of them speak both languages but they do not share a common background and most of them don't want to share their future. They remain p.e. French who live in Belgium and not a person from Belgium with French origin. So that effects their everyday lives, habits, ways of thinking and perhaps their egos.

Answer

The fact that a society is bilingual or multilingual does not in itself cause problems. A good example of a country that is relatively free of conflict is Switzerland, which has three main languages.

Obviously, if there are conflicts in a society and these are associated with the speakers of the different languages, then the languages can become a 'focus' for further conflict.

From what I know about Belgium the key problem is that in many areas of life there is little contact between the main cultural groups. I'd be surprised if the real problem was the languages and/or cultures.

ANSWER:

There are absolutely problems inherited by bilingual and even worse multi-lingual societies. If bilingual means all parties speak both languages the problem is minimized but language is not flawless and even if both parties speak the same language, communication is not guaranteed. If bilingual society means some people speak one language and the other people speak a different language the problems abound. Commerce is diminished. Community is splintered fostering fear and mistrust. The purpose of language is to communicate, and a common language spoken by all is the surest way to accomplish this in a society.

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