Prof. Dr. Kees de Bot
The bilingual advantage: A reappraisal
In the last decades, research has shown that bilingualism may have a positive effect on cognitive functioning and may even delay the onset of dementia. In reaction to the research showing positive effects, a growing number of researchers have expressed doubt about the assumed advantages. In this presentation the evidence pros and cons will be discussed with a focus on the impact of bilingualism on cognitive functioning of elderly adults.
Präsentation
Mittwoch, 8. Juli 2015, 18:00 c.t.
Linguistisches Kolloquium
Schellingstraße 3, Vordergebäude, Raum S 005
The dynamics of multilingualism
Multilingualism is not a state but a process. Taking a complex dynamic systems (CDST) perspective, multilingualism should be studied as an ongoing process in which sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic factors interact over time. This position has substantial impact on how to do research in this area. Simple, static, monocausal approaches no longer suffice, time has to be built in, because everything is interconnected and developing. In this workshop, some of the basics of CDST will be presented and students are invited to present their work and reflect on the possibilities to look at their work from a CDST perspective.
Freitag, 10.07.2015, 10:00 - 16:00 Uhr
M.A.- und Doktoranden-Kolloquium, nur mit Anmeldung unter woerfel@daf.lmu.de
Ludwigstraße 28, Rückgebäude, Raum 026
10 Myths about Multilingualism
Eröffnungsvortrag
Most people in the world are mulitilingual. Still, in many countries and organizations, monolingualism is the norm. There are many myths around various aspects of multilingualism, even among language professionals and speech therapists. In this presentation 10 of the most common myths on multilingualism will be discussed. They range from bilingual education to brainmatters and from forgetting a language to the cognitive advantages and disadvantages of multilingualism. They will all be discussed briefly to show whether they are myths or truths.
Myth 1: Is a new language learned at the expense of previously acquired languages?
Myth 2: Better moral decisions in a second language?
Myth 3: Is it possible to learn to speak a language like a native speaker after puberty?
Myth 4: Children are better language learners than adults: the earlier the better?
Myth 5: An early start leads to speech disorders and retardation?
Myth 6: Learning and using a language leads to better thinking skills?
Myth 7: Multilingualism delays the onset of dementia?
Myth 8: Learning more languages leads to expanded brains?
Myth 9: Bilingual education leads to lower skills in the mother tongue?
Myth 10: Once a language is forgotten it has to be relearned from scratch?
