Many parents (expatriate, immigrant, newcomers and/or dialect speaking parents) have questions about the bilingual or bidialectal upbringing of their children. Questions often raised are:

  • Don’t get children confused when they hear two languages spoken around them?
  • Do children mix up their two languages?
  • Is it better to raise a child first in one language and then later in a second one?
  • Is dialect a degraded language and isn’t it better for the child to only acquire Dutch?

In this presentation, I'll address briefly why bilingual children and adults were considered a problem in earlier times and why this view has changed recently due to linguistic and cognitive research. This type of research enables us to address the questions posed above.

Programme            
17.30:                        Welcome
17.30 – 18.00:           Brightlands Chemelot Campus Tour
18.10 – 18.20:           Word of Welcome by Nele Coninx (Brightlands)
18.20 – 19.00:           Presentation Prof. dr. Leonie Cornips (Maastricht University)
19.00 – 19.30:           Informal drink

This event is part of the jubilee festivities of the University Fund Limburg and Maastricht University. Maastricht University (UM) turned 40 last January. All kinds of festive activities will take place in Maastricht from January till September 2016. The Limburg University Fund, which in 1965 began promoting the creation of Limburg's own university, will also celebrate its jubilee within the whole region.

When:      Tuesday 23 February, 17.30 – 19.30
Where:     Brightlands Campus, Building 24, Sittard
Who:        Prof. dr. L. Cornips, Professor and chair "Language culture" in Limburg @ Maastricht University
For:          Expat community & Immigrants & Dialectspeaking people
Entrance: Free, registration required

For more information visit the website.