What is bilingualism typically defined as?

Bilingualism is typically defined as the ability to communicate effectively in more than one language. This encompasses not only speaking and understanding the languages but also the capacity to engage in conversations, express thoughts, and comprehend ideas in those languages. The focus here is on communication, which can occur at various levels of fluency and proficiency, allowing individuals to switch between languages as needed in different contexts.

On the other hand, the other options provide narrower interpretations of bilingualism. For instance, the ability to read two languages is just one facet of communication and does not encompass speaking or understanding spoken language, which are also crucial components of being bilingual. Similarly, being a native speaker of two languages is a specific case and does not account for those who may learn a second language later in life. Lastly, the ability to translate between languages implies a particular skill set that involves not only knowledge of both languages but also cultural nuances, and it does not define bilingualism itself, which is more about overall communication capabilities.