Specialization II: Literacy, Multilingualism, and Multimodality

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Literacy, Multilingualism, and Multimodality

This subject area focuses on the question of how and under what conditions multilingual and multimodal potential and skills develop positively. This involves aspects of individual language development and communication facilitation on the one hand, and social institutions in the context of multilingualism, including their historical development, on the other.

Literacy and modalities of languages

Specialization II: Language education, multilingualism and multimodality examines individual language development in the context of multilingualism. Here, development is understood as a conglomerate of several different spoken languages and varieties as well as different modalities of language. Modalities such as sign language, for example, whose development depending on age is examined in this focus area. Modalities are also forms of presenting utterances - for example as spoken or written utterances.

Multilingualism and education

In addition to topics related to the individual and their language development, Specialization II: Language education, multilingualism and multimodality also deals with research that focuses on the best possible design of educational institutions and educational processes for the development of multilingualism. This includes the question of measures that are suitable for mitigating the potential disadvantages of multilingualism on educational outcomes - and, on the other hand, strengthening those side effects of multilingualism that can be beneficial for educational success, social integration and participation.