The Blackwell Guide to Research Methods in Bilingualism and Multilingualism

As globalization has increased awareness of the extent of language contact and linguistic diversity, questions concerning bilingualism and multilingualism have taken on an increasing importance from both practical and scholarly points of view. Written by leading experts and practitioners in the field, The Blackwell Guide to Research Methods in Bilingualism and Multilingualism:

• Highlights the interdisciplinary nature of research on bilingualism and multilingualism and offers a practical guide to the procedures and tools for collecting and analyzing data
• Specifically addresses methodological issues, discussing research topics, core concepts and approaches, and the methods and techniques available
• Links theory to method, and to data, and answers a real need for a know-how volume on bilingualism and multilingualism that deals with its methodology in a systematic and coherent way

List of Figures vii

List of Tables viii

Notes on Contributors ix

Acknowledgments xv

Preface xvi

Part I Researching Bilingualism and Multilingualism 1

1 Research Perspectives on Bilingualism and Multilingualism 3
Li Wei

2 Research as Practice: Linking Theory, Method, and Data 18
Melissa G. Moyer

Part II Procedures, Methods, and Tools 33

3 Types and Sources of Bilingual Data 35
Jacomine Nortier

4 Bilingual Speech Data: Criteria for Classification 53
Penelope Gardner-Chloros

5 Selecting Individuals, Groups, and Sites 73
Elizabeth Lanza

6 Study Design: Cross-sectional, Longitudinal, Case, and Group 88
Zhu Hua and Annabelle David

7 Laboratory Designs and Paradigms: Words, Sounds, and Sentences 108
Judith F. Kroll, Chip Gerfen, and Paola E. Dussias

8 Imaging Technologies 132
Jubin Abutalebi and Pasquale Anthony Della Rosa

9 Interviews and Questionnaires 158
Eva Codó

10 Recording Audio and Video 177
Ignasi Clemente

11 Transcription 192
Maria Teresa Turell and Melissa G. Moyer

12 Quantification and Statistics 214
Natasha Tokowicz and Tessa Warren

13 Data Banks and Corpora 232
Ad Backus

14 Doing Ethnography 249
Monica Heller

15 Social Network Analysis 263
Xu Daming, Wang Xiaomei, and Li Wei

16 Conversation and Interactional Analysis 275
Holly R. Cashman

17 Critical Discourse Analysis 296
Adrian Blackledge

18 Narrative Analysis 311
Aneta Pavlenko

19 Media Analysis 326
Tony Purvis

Part III Project Ideas, Dissemination, and Resources 343

20 Project Ideas 345
Li Wei and Melissa G. Moyer

21 Disseminating Research: A Guide to Conference Presentation and Journal Publication 354
Melissa G. Moyer and Li Wei

22 Resources for Research on Bilingualism and Multilingualism 361
Li Wei and Melissa G. Moyer

References 365

Index 399

“In summary, I can think of no other text that offers such a wide range of practical advise for actually carrying out research. This guide will find a place in courses on bi- and multilingualism, in linguistic field methods and even ethnographic methods courses, as well as on the shelves of university libraries and scholars interested in this subject.” (Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 19 June 2013)

"This book accomplishes something quite unique, in providing a background knowledge and understanding of research methodologies used in studies of bilingualism and multilingualism." (Journal of Sociolinguistics, April 2009)

"Provides a comprehensive overview of research methods on bilingualism. The overview of each research method is very brief and clear." (Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 2009)

Li Wei is Professor of Applied Linguistics at Birkbeck, University of London. He is editor of the International Journal of Bilingualism and author/editor of numerous books and articles, including Three Generations, Two Languages, One Family (1994), The Bilingualism Reader (2000), and The Handbook of Multilingualism and Multilingual Communication (2007, with Peter Auer).

Melissa G. Moyer is Associate Professor of English Linguistics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Her current research and publications are concerned with migration and the management of multilingualism. She is author of the award winning book La cárcel de las palabras: Ensayo sobre el lenguaje y la desigualdad social (1988, with J. M. de Miguel).

As globalization has increased awareness of the extent of language contact and linguistic diversity, questions concerning bilingualism and multilingualism have taken on an increasing importance from both practical and scholarly points of view. Written by leading experts and practitioners in the field, The Blackwell Guide to Research Methods in Bilingualism and Multilingualism:

• Highlights the interdisciplinary nature of research on bilingualism and multilingualism and offers a practical guide to the procedures and tools for collecting and analyzing data
• Specifically addresses methodological issues, discussing research topics, core concepts and approaches, and the methods and techniques available
• Links theory to method, and to data, and answers a real need for a know-how volume on bilingualism and multilingualism that deals with its methodology in a systematic and coherent way

“An intellectually rich, comprehensive, lucid introduction to conceptualizing, developing, conducting and dispersing the results of research on bilingual individuals and populations. The editors have, brilliantly, enlisted researchers known for their work in the areas they have been asked to cover, so that both details and structure are fully thought-through and au courant.” Loraine K. Obler, City University of New York

“Students and more experienced researchers alike will find this volume invaluable in providing exactly what they need. Edited by two experienced and respected practitioners, the Guide focuses on details of method and procedure, as well as outlining major issues in the field and providing useful (and useable) models for research projects.” Lesley Milroy, University of Michigan and University of Oxford

“This is a highly innovative book - of great value to everybody who wants to do research on bilingualism, in whatever methodological framework. Comprehensive, always to the point, and full of good ideas. If you have a research question about bilingualism, this book will show you how to answer it.” Peter Auer, University of Frieburg