Elective course:The brain in bilingualism

elective courses

Basic knowledge of linguistics (principal linguistic terms)

Blended learning
Classroom
Remote learning

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the most important aspects of bilingualism and multilingualism in the context of brain processes. The course begins with different definitions of bilingualism and the principles governing the knowledge of more than one language. Case studies from the nineteenth century until today will be discussed, as well as experimental research and theoretical analyses on language functions in the brain, language acquisition and loss, the importance of the order and age of acquisition, language proficiency level and cognitive control for linguistic processing.

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the most important aspects of bilingualism and multilingualism in the context of brain processes. The course begins with different definitions of bilingualism and the principles governing the knowledge of more than one language. Case studies from the nineteenth century until today will be discussed, as well as experimental research and theoretical analyses on language functions in the brain, language acquisition and loss, the importance of the order and age of acquisition, language proficiency level and cognitive control for linguistic processing. Individual topics will be presented on the examples of research using psycho- and neurolinguistic methodology (eye-tracking, EEG, neuroimaging, fNIRs, TMS). Issues related to the upbringing of bilingual children as well as the everyday life of people living in multilingual communities, including borderlands (code switching and code mixing, systematic borrowings, domination of one dialect / language, pidgins and creoles) will also be discussed.

PROGRAM:

1. Bilingualism - truths and myths, definitions, advantages and disadvantages

2. Age of language acquisition, critical periods

3. The sensorimotor nature of language, speech and grammar processing

in the brain

4. The resistance of languages ​​to change, brain damage, loss and recovery

of language functions

5. Level of language proficiency, experience, order of acquisition and their

importance in bilingualism

6. The meaning of control in bilingualism, "the language switch"

7. Mixing language codes, switching from one language to another

and the mechanisms responsible for it

8. Advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism - cognitive functions, learning

and reasoning, multitasking

9. The bilingual brain - structure and functioning

10. Summary - neuronal plasticity, research methods, latest discoveries

Each of the above points includes several classes depending on the interests of the students and their background knowledge. Some of the topics are interrelated, and therefore more than one of them may be covered in a given class

Blom, E. & Unsworth, S. (Eds.) (2010). Experimental methods in language acquisition research. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.

Fabbro, F. (Ed.) (1999). The Neurolinguistics of Bilingualism: An Introduction. Routledge.

Hernandez, A. (2013). The Bilingual Brain. Oxford: OUP.

Stemmer, B., & Whitaker, H. A. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of the Neuroscience of Language. Academic Press.

Wei, L. & Moyer, M. (2008). Blackwell guide to research methods in bilingualism and multilingualism. Oxford: Blackwell.

Zubicaray, G., Schiller, N. (Eds.) (2019). The Oxford Handbook of Neurolinguistics. Oxford: OUP.

Students will:

- have in-depth knowledge of bilingualism and multilingualism and the most important research related to this subject

- know the basic structure of the brain and the neural pathways responsible for language processing and learning the native language and foreign languages

- know the basic concepts: the age of acquisition and critical periods, cognitive control and the importance of the level of language proficiency in research on bilingualism

- know the basic methodology of research in the field of psycho- and neurolinguistics in the context of bilingualism and is able to find its applications to the sub-discipline and languageof their interest

- be able to independently analyze scientific research in the field of bilingualism, interpret and present their results

- be able to reliably convey the conclusions drawn from the discussed and similar research and issues

Continuous assessment based on reading, active participation, quizzes and tasks on the Moodle platform, class discussions and group work - 60%

Final test - 40%

REQUIREMENTS:

Presence and active participation in class.

Reading books and preparing materials at home.

Tracking the course content on the Moodle platform.

Group work (according to the instructions given in class).

not applicable