Bimodal bilingualism: When the keys to the mother tongue are on her hands

Hearing children of deaf parents are likely to be exposed to both a signed language and a spoken language. This experience leads to their development of bimodal bilingualism.

Despite traditionally limited and often inconsistent data on this population, it is often believed that children of deaf parents are at risk of developing language learning difficulties. Evelyne will discuss her recent data comparing language acquisition profiles in bimodal bilinguals to children acquiring two spoken languages from birth and children acquiring a single language.

She will discuss the results of her research, and the positive effects of bimodal bilingualism.

This online event will be particularly useful for teachers and parents of multilingual children.

Please note that this talk will be accompanied by live captions. To request sign language interpreters, please contact Dr Evelyne Mercure

Multilingualism and Diversity: Impact on Education, Health and Society seminar series

This seminar series aims to bridge science with practice in education. Leading experts in linguistics, psychological sciences and neurosciences will engage with education practitioners, parents, students and members of the public who have an interest in multicultural diversity and inclusion. 

Related links

• Multilanguage and Cognition Lab
• Department of Psychology and Human Development