ET324-15 Multilingualism and Culture
Introductory description
Is it an advantage or disadvantage to be brought up bilingual? Is the bilingual or multilingual mind different? How do multilingual individuals draw on culturally shaped understandings of the social world to manage their interactions? In this module you will become familiar with key terms, concepts, theories and research evidence related to linguistic, psychological, and social aspects of bi/multi-lingualism. By the end of the module, you will be able to describe and discuss evidence in bi/multi-lingualism research, analyse the use of language in bi/multi-lingual contexts and evaluate theoretical and empirical research in bi/multi-lingualism.
Module aims
This module aims to develop understanding of the workings of the bilingual mind, the advantages and disadvantages of being brought up bilingual, and how individuals draw on frames of understanding from diverse languages to construct meaning in social interaction and manage communication with others. You will become familiar with key terms, concepts, theories and research evidence related to linguistic, psychological, and social aspects of bi/multi-lingualism.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Learning multiple languages in childhood
Sequential multilingualism and the critical period
Multilingual lexicon and multilingual processing
Cognitive effects of multilingualism
Code-switching
Multilingual societies
Language shift and endangerment
Language policy, planning and education
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:• demonstrate your understanding of key concepts, terminology, research methods and theories related to the linguistic, psychological and social aspects of multilingualism• demonstrate a critical understanding of issues related to multilingualism and culture• describe and discuss the use of language by multilinguals and in multilingual contexts• critically evaluate theoretical and empirical research in multilingualism
Indicative reading list
Bhatia, T. K., & Ritchie, W. C. (Eds.). The handbook of bilingualism and multilingualism (2nd edn) (pp.5-25). Chichester/Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.
Wei, L. (Ed.). The bilingualism reader (pp. 3-25). London/New York: Routledge.
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Interdisciplinary
This module demonstrates how the study of multilingualism is inherently interdisciplinary. We can study multilingualism from a number of different perspectives including linguistic, psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic and applied linguistics.
International
In an increasingly globalised and mobilised world, speakers of different languages are interacting with one another more and more, perpetuating local and global multilingualism. It is therefore critical to understand how an individual and/or a society becomes multilingual, how multilingual individuals interact, how the multilingual mind works, and how multilingualism can be supported (or not) through policies and education.
Subject specific skills
Describe and discuss theory and evidence in bilingual first language acquisition research
Demonstrate their understanding of key concepts, terminology, research methods and theories of bilingualism
Describe and discuss the use of language in bilinguals
Evaluate theoretical and empirical research in bilingualism
Be familiar with theory, research findings, research methods related to bilingualism
Transferable skills
Communicate clearly in oral presentation and written work
Retrieve, evaluate critically and select relevant information to support coherent arguments
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Lectures | 9 sessions of 2 hours (12%) |
Seminars | 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%) |
Other activity | 4 hours (3%) |
Private study | 119 hours (79%) |
Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Reading subject materials
Homework tasks
Assignments
Revision
Other activity description
Revision sessions
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group C3
Weighting | Study time | |
---|---|---|
2000 word assignment | 50% | |
On campus Examination | 50% | |
|
Feedback on assessment
Written feedback on the assignment will be provided on the Centre's standard feedback sheets, which conform to Faculty regulations. This will include both summary and detailed feedback. Where appropriate, additional feedback may be provided via personal meetings with the tutor.
Courses
This module is Optional for:
- Year 3 of UETA-Q311 in English Language and Linguistics (with Intercalated year)