Multilingualism

"The textbook contains an exceptionally rich and comprehensive introduction to multilingualism. All topical issues of the field are addressed and communicated in a reader-friendly and accessible style. Students will profit from the many exercises that can be used as a basis for cooperative learning sessions."

-Peter Siemund, Professor of English Linguistics, English and General Linguistics, University of Hamburg, Germany

"This is a very rich book on multilingualism that combines sociolinguistic with psycholinguistic approaches and covers a wide range of topics from definitions to manifestations of multilingualism across different contexts and populations as well as multilingual practices within education, social media, and music. A highlight are the research methods chapters on methodological procedures to study individual, societal, visual and digital multilingualism, as well as the ideas for future projects."

-Theodoros Marinis, Professor of Multilingualism, Department of Linguistics, University of Konstanz, Germany

"This novel textbook provides a comprehensive overview of current issues in multilingualism research. Covering a wide range of sociolinguistic perspectives, it takes the reader on a global journey on which theoretical approaches are exemplified in diverse multilingual contexts and realities. Scholars and students alike will find it an indispensable addition to the canon in the field."

-Jakob Leimgruber, Professor of English Linguistics, Department of English and American Studies, University of Regensburg, Germany

"Buschfeld, Ronan and Vida-Mannl provide a delightful and user-friendly textbook reconciling sociolinguistic, cognitive, acquisitional and pedagogical perspectives of multilingualism around the world and across time. Presented in a highly engaging and accessible style, the 14 chapters in this book will serve as a great entry point for those seeking to explore multilingualism as a complex system consisting of multiple agents and interrelated patterns of experience, social interaction, and cognitive mechanisms."

-Simone E. Pfenninger, Professor of English Lingusitics, Engllish Department, University of Zurich, Switzerland

This textbook takes a broad perspective on multilingualism, using a sociolinguistics and acquisition-informed approach that treats multilingualism not solely as the mastery of two or more well-defined language systems, but rather as a continuum of linguistic repertoires and resources to be used in different settings and combinations. The authors introduce traditional aspects of multilingualism - including historical dimensions, societal and individual multilingualism, aspects of identities, ideologies, education, and language policies - before going on to examine newer manifestations such as multilingualism in migrant and refugee contexts,in new media, pop music and linguistic landscaping, as well as the notion of grassroots multilingualism. This textbook will be an ideal resource for postgraduate students of linguistics and multilingualism, as well as advanced undergraduate students who are looking for a nuanced and holistic approach to the topic. 

​Sarah Buschfeld is Professor of English Linguistics (Multilingualism) at TU Dortmund University, Germany 

Patricia Ronan is Professor of English Linguistics at TU Dortmund University, Germany 

Manuela Vida-Mannl is Postdoctoral Researcher in English Linguistics (Multilingualism) at TU Dortmund University, Germany