switching between, two languages during classroom activities (Chapters 7
and 8), while the findings from experimental studies looking at the degree of
transfer across various domains (Chapters 1–4), and naturalistic studies of
code-switching practices (Chapters 5 and 6), provide insights into how vari-
ous models of trans languaging may affect different types of bilinguals in
different ways. Such a focused approach to researching bilingualism from
different disciplinary perspectives allows for a much deeper understanding
and appreciation of the relationship between bilinguals’ two languages,
making this volume an essential read for both researchers and practitioners
alike.
The ESRC Centre for Research on Bilingualism
in Theory and Practice
The research presented in this book would not have been possible with-
out the initiative of a group of dedicated and well-established bilingualism
researchers at Bangor University. Spanning the Schools of Education,
Linguistics and English Language, and Psychology, this founding group, com-
prising Professor Margaret Deuchar, Professor Marilyn Vihman, Professor
Virginia C. Mueller Gathercole and Professor Colin Baker, shared a common
interest in bilingualism, yet their own research programmes were largely
developed and conducted independently. Their vision was to develop a multi-
disciplinary Centre for the study of bilingualism that would allow for closer
and continuous interaction between themselves and other researchers work-
ing in the field. Thanks to their vision and dedication, coupled with the
efforts and support of Professor Duncan Tanner, the team attracted a £5.2
million grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the
Welsh Government (formerly the Welsh Assembly Government) and the
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), and the Centre first
opened for business in January 2007. Since then, the Centre has continued to
grow and flourish and has established itself as an internationally recognised
centre of excellence for research into bilingualism. Owing to its world-class
status, the Centre has attracted a continuous flow of excellent visiting
researchers, including some of the most well-regarded research leaders in the
field. Their visits have led to constructive and stimulating discussions, and
have helped set ideas for the future research agenda in the field. The Centre
is set to continue its efforts as the world continues to embrace multilingual-
ism and multicultural ways of life.
Acknowledgements
The work presented in this book was part of the programme of the ESRC
Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory and Practice at Bangor
xxiv Advances in the Study of Bilingualism