Multimodal Communication in Young Multilingual Children: Learning Beyond Words

This book investigates how multilingual children acquire multiple languages and non-verbal communication strategies in multilingual households, and how parents collaborate to shape the language of their family. It offers insights into an underrepresented multilingual population and provides multimodal family interaction data for students and researchers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2023
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

This captivating book delves into the fascinating realm of young children's language acquisition within multilingual households, undertaking an original longitudinal study of the author's own children and conducting in-depth interviews with members of other Korean-English families. Through this comprehensive exploration, the study uncovers not only the acquisition of multiple languages but also the acquisition of diverse non-verbal communication strategies. What emerges is a profound realization that parents and children engage in a collaborative process, shaping the language of their family together in a manner that transcends both languages and cultures.

The book delves into the diverse range of non-verbal behaviors acquired by multilingual children, shedding light on the frequency and types of these behaviors. It further reveals how multilingual families employ a multitude of multimodal resources to communicate effectively, fostering a sense of solidarity within their households. The findings of this longitudinal study are contextualized within the framework of translanguaging, offering valuable insights into an underrepresented multilingual population.

To enhance the learning experience, the book is accompanied by online videos, providing rich multimodal family interaction data for students and researchers interested in multilingualism, family language practices, and first and second language acquisition. This resource is invaluable in fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities and dynamics of multilingual households.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 241 x 164 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800413337