In this broad overview of current theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of bilingualism, the contributors examine the dynamics of bilingual language processing over time from the perspectives of neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. This multidisciplinary approach is fundamental to an understanding of how the bilingual's two (or more) language systems interact with each other and with other higher cognitive systems, neurological substrates, and social systems. Contributors examine the nature of bilingualism during various phases of the life cycle and in various...

This crosslinguistic collection looks at changes and developments in language known as progression and regression. The processes are examined and compared at the societal and individual level. In the former, the focus is on the socio-cultural forces that influence groups of speakers to create new languages or abandon old ones. In the latter, the acquisition and attrition of first and second languages are considered. The theoretical issues around this topic are addressed from sociological, neuropsychological and linguistic perspectives.

An encompassing picture of what high-level competence in second languages and in multilingual use is about.

Aimed at scholars in linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and bilingual studies as well as language teachers on all levels, this volume provides important insights in second language use at the highest levels and also of high-proficient mixed language use in multicultural settings.