Constructing space through language use and language acquisition in the context of forced migration

The OLE SIG Multilingual Cafe in March has the exceptional opportunity to share an invited lecture on forced migration. On March 24th, 2023 we will have a lecture by Prof. Dr. Sandra Ballweg (University of Paderborn). The event will take place in Tokyo in person and online. Please sign up for the event. You will receive the details a few days before the event. 

Abstract of the lecture: From a sociocultural perspective, space is constructed through language and languages are acquired for specific spaces. While the physical place is defined by physical boundaries, social space is constructed and de-constructed through social and linguistic practices. In this talk, I will discuss the role of space in language acquisition and present first results from a study on the construction of space through linguistic practices and language acquisition in Ukrainian families in Germany. The results show how families engage with new spaces while trying to maintain old spaces for the children, mainly to offer them education in both spaces, the home country and the new environment.

Dr. Ballweg will report in this presentation on recent findings of an joint international Erasmus + Project between Germany and Poland where she is the head investigator.