What is classified as a dominant language?

A dominant language refers to the language in which a bilingual or multilingual speaker has the highest level of proficiency and comfort. This means that when a person is fluent in more than one language, their dominant language is the one they use most frequently or perform best in, both in spoken and written contexts. This proficiency often influences how they think, express themselves, and interact with their surroundings.

In the context of bilingualism, the dominant language can significantly affect a person's identity, social interactions, and access to educational resources. Understanding which language is dominant for an individual can help educators and specialists tailor their teaching strategies to support effective communication and learning.

The other options focus on less relevant aspects: a language taught exclusively in schools does not necessarily indicate proficiency; the least used language would be the opposite of the dominant one; and a rarely spoken language in the community implies low use and less opportunity to practice and develop proficiency. Thus, the definition of a dominant language is accurately captured through the framework of proficiency and usage, making it the correct answer.