The Exploration of Multilingualism: Development of research on L3, multilingualism and multiple language acquisition (Aila Applied Linguistics Series)

177 Pages·2009·1.38 MB·English

by  Larissa Aronin

The Exploration of Multilingualism
AILA Applied Linguistics Series (AALS)
The AILA Applied Linguistics Series (AALS) provides a forum for scholars
in any area of Applied Linguistics. The series aims at representing the
field in its diversity. It covers different topics in applied linguistics from a
multidisciplinary approach and it aims at including different theoretical and
methodological perspectives. As an official publication of AILA the series will
include contributors from different geographical and linguistic backgrounds.
The volumes in the series should be of high quality; they should break new
ground and stimulate further research in Applied Linguistics.
Editor
Susanne Niemeier
University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany
Editorial Board
Jean-Marc Dewaele Rosa Manchón
University of London University of Murcia, Spain
Nancy Hornberger Anne Pakir
University of Pennsylvania, US National University of Singapore
Folkert Kuiken
University of Amsterdam
Volume 6
The Exploration of Multilingualism. Development of research on L3,
multilingualism and multiple language acquisition
Edited by Larissa Aronin and Britta Hufeisen
The Exploration
of Multilingualism
Development of research on L3, multilingualism
and multiple language acquisition
Edited by
Larissa Aronin
University of Haifa
Britta Hufeisen
Technical University of Darmstadt
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Amsterdam / Philadelphia
TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
8
American National Standard for Information Sciences – Permanence of
Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48-1984.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The exploration of multilingualism : development of research on L3, multilingualism, and
multiple language acquisition / edited by Larissa Aronin, Britta Hufeisen.
p. cm. (AILA Applied Linguistics Series, issn 1875-1113 ; v. 6)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Multilingualism. 2. Language acquisition. I. Aronin, Larissa. II. Hufeisen, Britta, 1960-
P115.E87 2009
404’.2--dc22 2009033361
isbn 978 90 272 0522 3 (Hb ; alk. paper)
isbn 978 90 272 8897 4 (Eb)
© 2009 – John Benjamins B.V.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, or any
other means, without written permission from the publisher.
John Benjamins Publishing Co. · P.O. Box 36224 · 1020 me Amsterdam · The Netherlands
John Benjamins North America · P.O. Box 27519 · Philadelphia pa 19118-0519 · usa
Table of contents
Acknowledgements vii
1. Introduction: On the genesis and development of L3 research,
multilingualism and multiple language acquisition: About this book 1
Larissa Aronin and Britta Hufeisen
2. Defining multilingualism 11
Charlotte Kemp
3. The genesis and development of research in multilingualism:
Perspectives for future research 27
Rita Franceschini
4. The development of psycholinguistic research
on crosslinguistic influence 63
Gessica De Angelis and Jean-Marc Dewaele
5. The role of prior knowledge in L3 learning and use:
Further evidence of psychotypological dimensions 79
Muiris Ó Laoire and David Singleton
6. Methods of research in multilingualism studies:
Reaching a comprehensive perspective 103
Larissa Aronin and Britta Hufeisen
7. The study of multilingualism in educational contexts 121
Jasone Cenoz and Ulrike Jessner
8. Multilingualism resources: Associations, journals,
book series, bibliographies and conference lists 139
Peter Ecke
9. Crossing the second threshold 155
Larissa Aronin and Britta Hufeisen
Name index 161
Subject index 165

Acknowledgements
We very much appreciate the work that the contributors to this volume have put
into their chapters as well as their various practical activities in support of the
International Association of Multilingualism.
We would like to warmly thank the reviewers of the chapters for their time
and effort and for their useful and insightful comments. We would also like to ex-
press our gratitude to Jasone Cenoz, University of the Basque Country, to Ulrike
Jessner, University of Innsbruck, and to David Singleton, Trinity College, Dublin,
for their valuable advice and support during the preparation of this volume for
publication.
Very special thanks on the part of one of the editors, Larissa Aronin, are
owed to the President of the University of Haifa, Professor Aaron Ben Ze’ev, for
his continuing support and encouragement of her research activities and of her
participation in IAM conferences, which made it possible for her to interact
with the contributors and to become involved in the planning and realization
of this book.
We would like to thank Faina Furman, University of Haifa, for her tireless and
meticulous proofreading and formatting of the manuscript. Our gratitude goes
also to Kees Vaes, John Benjamins Publishing Company, for his patience and for
his trust in our undertaking.

chapter 1. introduction
On the genesis and development
of L3 research, multilingualism and
multiple language acquisition
About this book
Larissa Aronin and Britta Hufeisen
University of Haifa / Technical University of Darmstadt
Although the regions where people used multiple languages were known from
the earliest years of humankind, in recent times multilingualism transpires as a
phenomenon whose nature is to be investigated afresh and on its own terms.
Unlike the numerous plurilingual locations, populations, and individuals in
the past, those cumulatively featuring current multilingualism came into the spot-
light as a distinctive linguistic dispensation. Compared to the previous patterns
of use and acquisition of two and more languages, it is manifested in different
manner, to a different extent, and more importantly, is crucially integral to the
construction of the contemporary globalized reality (Aronin and Singleton 2008).
This book is manifestly about multilingualism rather than bilingualism al-
though the latter is very often included in the concept of multilingualism as its
specific case. Our stand is that multilingualism subsumes bilingualism. The issue
of distinction between bilingualism and multilingualism is given considerable at-
tention in this volume.
In recent times both the awareness of multilingualism and research in this
area have become increasingly conspicuous. A significant amount of books that
look deeper into various aspects of contemporary multilingualism and third
language acquisition have appeared. De Angelis (2007) on third or additional
language acquisition, Jessner (2006) on language awareness, Ringbom (2007) on
cross-linguistic similarity in foreign language learning, Cenoz (2009) on multi-
lingual education, Lasagabaster and Huguet (2006) on language attitudes and use
of multiple languages in European context and the Handbook of Multilingualism
and Multilingual Communication by Auer and Li Wei (2007) are some of the
recent and the more prominent ones.