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NG BEE CHIN AND GILLIAN WIGGLESWORTH, BILINGUALISM: AN ADVANCED RESOURCE BOOK (Routledge, Taylor & Francis, 2007)
Research Centre for Languages and Cultures, University of South Australia
This book presents a lucid and analytical account of the bi-/multhingual phenomenon from both a cognitive and sociolinguistic perspective. It explores the following topics in an interactive style, which encourages the reader to think about application of the following key issues in bilingual research:
1. Describing bilingualism
2. Measuring bilingualism
3. Bilingual acquisition
4. Bilingualism and cognitive ability
5. Language attrition in bilinguals
6. Education and literacy in bilingual settings
7. Attitudes and bilingualism
These topics are explored within three sections: Introduction, Extension and Exploration. While described as an advanced resource book, the accessible language and tripartite book structure ensure that this book can be read not only by experts in the field of bilingualism and second language acquisition, but also by learners and lay people who approach this field for the first time. The introductory section in each chapter in particular should be recommended reading by both preservice and practicing school teachers who work in either plurilingual or monolingual contexts where minority languages are spoken at home.
The departure point of discussion is framed in the opening of each chapter which highlights the contentions and controversy in the field. The rest of the discussion then unfolds itself around these controversial foci. This approach provides an effective entry point into the discussion and engages the readers in a thought-provoking discussion right from the beginning.
While I found all the topics covered engaging, two stand...