edinburgh university press linguistic awareness in multilinguals english as a third language apr 2006

Cover design: River Design, Edinburgh
Cover illustration: drawing made by a student
Edinburgh University Press
22 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LF
www.eup.ed.ac.uk
ISBN 0 7486 1914 3
barcode
Edinburgh
This book discusses cognitive and psycholinguistic aspects of
third language acquisition and trilingualism, and explores the
key role of linguistic awareness in multilingual proficiency
and language learning. In view of the widespread acquisition
of English by those who are already bilingual or are also
acquiring a regional lingua franca this study will contribute to
the current discussion of multilingualism with English in
Europe and beyond, as well as the understanding of
multilingual speech processing. The author supports a
dynamic view of multilingualism by stressing the cognitive
advantages that the contact with more languages can offer
and uses this approach as the basis for future
language teaching and learning. Chapters cover topics such
as performing in a third language, metalinguistic awareness
in multilinguals and in multilingual education, and English as
a third language in Europe.
Features:
• The first study of the important role metalinguistic
awareness plays in multilingual proficiency
• Includes a unique comparison of both second and third
language acquisition
• Useful for students and scholars of applied linguistics,
language education, language planning, psycholinguistics,

cognitive linguistics and the study of the English language.
Ulrike Jessner is Associate P
rofessor in the Department of
English at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Linguistic Awareness in Multilinguals
Ulrike Jessner
Linguistic Awareness
in Multilinguals
Ulrike Jessner
Linguistic Awareness
in Multilinguals
Ulrike Jessner
‘Ulrike Jessner is a
leading scholar in the
field of multilingualism
and third language
acquisition. Her book’s
major asset lies in its
interdisciplinary approach
and concentration on
metalinguistic awareness
as an emerging property
of multilingual
proficiency.’
Danièle Moore, Simon
Fraser University, and
Directeur de recherche,
Sorbonne

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Linguistic Awareness in Multilinguals
i
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‘Ulrike Jessnerisaleadingscholar in the field of multilingualism and third
language acquisition. Her book’s major asset lies in its interdisciplinary
approach and concentration on metalinguistic awareness as an emerging
property of multilingual proficiency. The book is clear, amazingly infor-
mative and documented.’
Danièle Moore, Simon Fraser University,
and Directeur de recherche, Sorbonne
‘It’s a terrific piece of work – so comprehensive, with new insights and
very, very clear. It will become a landmark in research for all interested in
metalinguistic awareness.’
Muiris O’Laoire, Institute of Technology Tralee
‘The new book contains an extensive discussion of third language acquisi-
tion and the nature of linguistic awareness . . . Jessner shows an impressive
overview of the field, covering also brand-new works.’
Björn Hammarberg, University of Stockholm
ii
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Linguistic Awareness
in Multilinguals
English as a Third Language
Ulrike Jessner
Edinburgh University Press
iii
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© Ulrike Jessner, 2006
Edinburgh University Press Ltd
22 George Square, Edinburgh
Typeset in 11/13 Monotype Ehrhardt
by TechBooks, New Delhi, India
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham, Wilts
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-10 0 7486 1913 5 (hardback)
ISBN-13 978 0 7486 1913 9
ISBN-10 0 7486 1914 3 (paperback)
ISBN-13 978 0 7486 1914 6
The right of Ulrike Jessner
to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
iv