Bilingualism vs. Biculturalism Bilingualism and biculturalism are related but distinct concepts in the study of the acquisition and use of two different languages and cultures. Bilingualism: Refers to a person's ability to communicate in two languages. This ability may vary in terms of proficiency and fluency in each language. Bilingualism can be early, when a person learns both languages from childhood, or late, when a second language is learned after childhood. Bilingualism implies a deep knowledge of two languages and the ability to switch between them depending on the situation or the interlocutor. Biculturalism: Refers to a person's ability to function effectively in two different cultures. This involves not only fluency in the languages associated with those cultures, but also understanding and acceptance of the social norms, values, beliefs and behaviors of each. Biculturalism implies the ability to adapt to different cultural contexts and to behave appropriately acco...