Bilingual or Bicultural

 Differences between being bilingual and bicultural

Taken from Ratto Allison November 3, 2021

According to Grosjean (2012), being bilingual is the ability to speak and understand two or more languages, however the person isn't completely involved in several cultures, that is, the individual's cultural experience may be limited to just one. Bilinguals typically use their languages ​​in different everyday contexts, taking into account their needs, their survival requirements, and their mastery of their four language skills.

On the other hand, being bicultural involves participating in or adapting to two or more cultures. They combine elements such as values, behaviors, ideals, customs, attitudes, traditions, etc., from different cultures, influencing not only their identity but also their worldview, their reality, and their use of language.

Taken from Research Net

Regarding the behavior and cognition of bilingual people, they differ in a relevant way from those who are bicultural or monocultural bilinguals. Unlike bicultural people, depending on the culture they are interacting, changes in behavior and attitudes may occur, allowing them to adapt to diverse environments.

Taken from Barrios Jackie, April 12, 2017

Bilingual people don't get involved and/or interact little with the cultures linked to the languages ​​they speak, as is the case presented by Grosjean (2012), of a Swiss-German person, who masters both Swiss German and Standard German, but Swiss culture predominates. On the contrary, bicultural people can interact in diverse cultural environments, since they have the ability and facility to merge elements or aspects of different cultures in their relationships with others, behaviors, identity, traditional practices, etc.

Taken from Universal de Idiomas, September 13, 2020,

As for bilingual people who aren't bicultural, their cultural adaptability is limited, unlike bicultural people who may not be bilingual, but achieve to combine behaviors, norms, values, customs and attitudes of both cultures, allowing them to adapt to cultural norms according to the social context in which they find themselves.

Taken from García Ruby, March 1, 2024, Linkedin.