Аннотация
This article explores the forms and types of bilingualism and multilingualism within the linguistic context of Kazakh, Russian, and English. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing role of multilingual competence in modern Kazakhstan and the complex interaction between national and global languages. The aim of the research is to systematize existing classifications of bilingualism and multilingualism and to identify the stages of their development based on the degree and nature of linguistic interference.The study is grounded in a comprehensive analysis of linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic theories of bilingualism proposed by L. V. Shcherba, U. Weinreich, Ch. Osgood, S. Ervin, and other scholars. The methodological framework includes descriptive analysis, comparative classification, introspection of bilingual speech, and the examination of empirical observations of Kazakh–Russian and Kazakh–Russian–English language interaction.The article presents a staged model of bilingualism and trilingualism, ranging from superferential and polyferential types to metaferential, mesoferential, transferential, endoferential, and adaptive bilingualism. Each stage is characterized by a specific level of phonetic, grammatical, lexical-semantic, and stylistic interference. Special attention is given to the adaptive type of bilingualism, which represents the highest level of linguistic competence and is marked by the automatic use of multiple languages without communicative or structural deviations.The results of the study demonstrate that bilingualism and multilingualism are dynamic and socially conditioned phenomena closely connected with national language development and language policy. The scientific value of the research lies in the proposed systematic classification of bilingualism stages, while its practical significance is associated with applications in language education, teacher training, and the development of effective multilingual communication strategies.