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Bilingualism - LAN00025H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module will provide a review of bilingual development. Some of the issues to be considered are:

  • the controversy over one system vs. two in simultaneous bilingual acquisition
  • the relation between bilingualism and cognitive processing
  • code-switching in children and in adults
  • the dynamic nature of bilingualism over the lifespan

Through a combination of lectures, readings and student presentations you will become acquainted with the findings of both individual case studies and group studies of bilingual children. We will consider some of the main theoretical issues involved. By the end of the module you should have a good understanding of the variability in bilingual development and language use and of the complex, often controversial questions surrounding cognitive and linguistic aspects of bilingualism, and you should have gained the ability to critically evaluate some of the issues involved.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student should:

  • be familiar with the findings of both case studies and group studies of bilingual children and adults
  • have a good understanding of the complex questions surrounding bilingualism
  • be able to critically evaluate some of the issues involved in bilingualism research

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 60
Open Exam (7-day week) 40

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 60
Open Exam (7-day week) 40

Module feedback

Written feedback and mark on University scale within 20 working days of submission.

Indicative reading

Library reading list available on VLE.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.