Complexity in Multilingualism (Research)

Beisbart, Claus (2021). Complexity in Multilingualism (Research). Language learning, 71(S1), pp. 39-79. Wiley 10.1111/lang.12426

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Does complexity make multilingualism special? Since there is no unequivocal notion of complexity on which researchers agree, several characteristics that have been considered crucial for complexity are brought to bear on multilingualism. While multilingualism is fairly complex in some senses, for instance, because it requires that many variables be studied, it is less clear whether multilingualism becomes special in this way. The most salient possible way in which multilingualism might be special due to its complexity is that qualitatively new features emerge as we move from mono- or bilingualism to multilingualism. While research in mathematics and physics has shown examples in which novel features emerge at a certain level, related results are not easily transferred to multilingualism. This is shown by analyzing the application of dynamic systems theory to multilingualism by Herdina and Jessner. It is ultimately a matter of empirical research whether there are suitable novel features that make multilingualism special.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institute of Philosophy
06 Faculty of Humanities > Department of Art and Cultural Studies > Institute of Philosophy > Theoretical Philosophy

UniBE Contributor:

Beisbart, Claus

Subjects:

100 Philosophy
100 Philosophy > 120 Epistemology

ISSN:

0023-8333

Publisher:

Wiley

Language:

English

Submitter:

Claus Beisbart

Date Deposited:

11 Apr 2022 15:18

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 16:18

Publisher DOI:

10.1111/lang.12426

Uncontrolled Keywords:

modeling; nonlinearity; chaos; emergence; dynamic systems theory; philosophy of science

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/168717

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/168717

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