Over recent years, multilingualism has become one of the fastest growing fields of study in linguistics, making it an essential topic for students hoping to pursue careers in applied linguistics, cognitive linguistics, and language acquisition. In this clear and concise textbook, authors Li Wei, John W. Schwieter, and Aline Ferreira set out to cover in comprehensive detail the essential topics in the growing study of multilingualism. Taking on some of the most exciting topics in language acquisition studies, this text covers the cognitive and linguistic implications of multilingualism and demonstrates the relationship of multilingualism to the changing technologies and socio-political climates of the modern world. This textbook also provides an unparalleled level of coverage to the cognitive aspects of multilingualism studies, making it a truly comprehensive overview of the subject.
This unique text begins by defining multilingualism, thus answering important questions about what makes multilingualism unique as a subject in language acquisition studies. The book then covers the history of multilingualism, theoretical models for considering multilingualism, and the way that the brain processes multiple languages and how multilingualism impacts cognitive function and development, as well as the way language use changes over the human lifespan. Finally, the book's last chapters address multilingualism in relation to education and policy, as well as challenges and developments presented by new technology and media, and finally the possibility that we are entering a 'post-multilingualism' era. Some of the subjects covered in this book are controversial in the field and thus promise to become fascinating topics for students, and throughout the text the authors encourage students to consider exciting ways to engage with these controversial and fast-changing research topics though exercises, discussion questions, and prompts for further independent research.
This book will be carefully tailored to suit the needs of undergraduate and early graduate students in courses on multilingualism as well as intersecting courses in language acquisition and language education. Each chapter features bolded keywords, discussion questions, further readings lists, assignments, and suggested research topics to help students bridge the gap between theory and real-world observation.
- ISBN13 9781119765196
- Publish Date 21 June 2022
- Publish Status Forthcoming
- Publish Country US
- Publisher John Wiley & Sons Inc
- Imprint Standards Information Network
- Format eBook
- Pages 250
- Language English
- URL http://wiley.com