Volume 55, Issue 1 - Special Issue: Contemporary issues in research on multilingualism, Guest Editors: Christina Lindqvist, Ylva Falk and Josefin Lindgren Dedicated to Håkan Ringbom

Potential multilingualism is a characteristic property of human language. This paper adopts a usage-based, complex-systems approach in discussing two different but interrelated perspectives on how multilingualism takes shape in individuals: the development of a linguistic repertoire over time (macro time perspective) and the processes of language use and acquisition in specific situations (micro time perspective). The concept of L3 has a role at the micro time level, in the situations of language use. A variable model of the situation of language use and acquisition in micro time is proposed. It adopts a factor approach which is inspired by Hufeisen’s Factor Model, but extends that model so as to be applicable to more variable stages and forms of linguistic repertoires. The connection between dynamic processes in micro and macro time is illustrated by data from a longitudinal test of phonological production which exposes both specific usage events and an evolving pattern.

Recognizing cognates in a related but unknown language (Lx) is of key importance in receptive multilingualism. Many studies have consequently investigated the impact of both item-related characteristics (most notably the cognates’ formal distance to their L1/L2 counterparts) and participant-related variables (e. g., the make-up of the participants’ linguistic repertoires) on Lx cognate recognition. However, little is known about how these two factors interact with one another. Using data from a lifespan study on Lx (Swedish) cognate recognition in German-speaking participants, we investigate how the effect of the Lx cognates’ formal distance to their L1/L2 counterparts varies as a function of the participants’ richness of linguistic experience and their ability to deal with abstract patterns flexibly (‘fluid intelligence’). We do so for both written and spoken stimuli. The results underscore that the relationship between formal distance and recognition in receptive multilingualism, and cross-linguistic influence more generally, may vary systematically as a function of participant-related variables.

Social representations have a deep impact on how societal multilingualism, individual plurilingualism, and plurisemiotic resources are described, reported, and accepted. Traditionally, two perceptions of the relationship between languages in plurilingual minds have been prevalent: the juxtaposed and the interdependent representation. A third perspective has recently emerged, reporting more dynamic and plurisemiotic communicative practices. We will analyze the most frequent patterns children use to represent their linguistic resources through visual narratives and how these representations fit into those perspectives. Our analysis evinces the dominance of more traditional representations of plurilingual resources as the sum of features from several clearly separated languages. However, some productions already point out at more supple and flexible possibilities of arranging linguistic resources. Finally, we provide some clues about the development of linguistic curricula designed for plurilingual children engaged in Heritage Language classes, and we discuss epistemological issues regarding the analysis of multimodal plurilingualism and complex plurilingual practices.

Students’ language attitudes have long been considered important in the process of language learning, as they may impact academic achievement, and educators’ attitudes towards languages have also been studied for they may play a paramount role in shaping students’ attitudes. Hence, examining the development of teacher students’ language attitudes will help to better fine tune the specific teacher education programme. The aim of the present study was to analyse the development of primary teacher student attitudes towards English and to investigate the impact of personal, contextual and educational variables on those attitudes. This longitudinal study was carried out with 100 undergraduates enrolled in a degree programme in trilingual Primary Teacher Education. Our results show that self-perception of English competence level and specialist areas are the decisive variables. It was also revealed that these primary teacher students do not consider English a threat to their own identity. Furthermore, our findings suggest the need to go beyond students’ personal and contextual data to examine the particular educational context in greater depth, specifically, the language and educational policy being implemented, as both of these may impact students’ attitudes towards the target language.