Bali, Borneo and Britain: From linguistic ecology to neuroscience
Thomas H. Bak will discuss how the Healthy Linguistic Diet framework emphasises the positive effects of multilingualism across the lifespan, with insights from tours of Bali and Borneo.
Bali, Borneo and Britain: From linguistic ecology to neuroscience
20 Mar 2025, 17:00 – 18:30
Dr Bak will discuss how their “Healthy Linguistic Diet” (HLD) framework, emphasising positive effects of multilingualism across the lifespan, has been revised during their tour in Bali and Borneo, in the light of linguistic diversity loss at the global level.
Indonesia is one of eight countries with 50 percent of the world's endangered languages, according to UNESCO. Examining the tension between mono- and multilingualism in different places across the world highlights differences, but also common themes, which led Dr Bak to identify that the HLD model has much to offer when extended to encompass linguistic ecology and sustainability as well as social justice in language education.
The framework provides an alternative to currently dominating academic monolingualism, emphasising the value of epistemic diversity and aligning with the agenda of decolonisation.
This event will be particularly useful for researchers.
Related links
- Centre for Applied Linguistics Research Seminars Series
- Centre for Applied Linguistics
- Department of Culture, Communication and Media
Image
Stacey Gabrielle Koenitz Rozells via Pexels.
Dr Thomas H. Bak
Reader in Human Cognitive Neuroscience
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
His current research explores the impact of multilingualism and language learning on healthy ageing as well as on brain diseases such as stroke and dementia, in a wide range of populations, from Scotland and Malta, through India, to Singapore and China.
Further information
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