Multilingual and Multicultural Individuals Level 6

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor and tutor: Professor Jean-Marc Dewaele
• Prerequisite: Approaches to Language
• Assessment: a 3500-word essay (100%)

Growing numbers of people become - or grow up - multilingual. Do they experience any changes as they master new languages? Do they feel they become a slightly different person when switching language?

In this module we introduce you to key theoretical and practical issues in the study of multilingualism at the micro (individual) level, dealing with linguistic, cultural, sociological and psychological issues. You will discuss and research issues that typically coincide with your own experiences of multilingualism.

Indicative syllabus

• Code-switching
• Acculturation and hybridity
• Multicultural identities
• Communication and recognition of emotion in multiple languages
• Trilingual first language acquisition
• Immigration and multicultural personality

By the end of this module, you will:

• have deepened your theoretical understanding of how multilingual individuals function and change over time, and how this knowledge can be applied to individuals of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• be able to critically evaluate research on the topic and to design basic research projects.