PhD position on receptive multilingual communication (1,0 FTE)

The Dutch language barrier can hold internationals back from participating in Dutch-language meetings of participatory bodies at universities. As a result, the perspective of internationals in policy-making is considered hardly or to a lesser extent. Receptive multilingualism (also known as Intercomprehension or Lingua Receptiva / Luistertaal) might offer solutions for such situations, where interlocutors speak/write their own language and are able to understand/read the other language. It would enable internationals to communicate effectively using receptive proficiency in Dutch and their productive proficiency in English, avoiding the need to develop advanced Dutch proficiency in the productive skills, which are far more time-consuming to acquire.
The PhD project will be concerned with the analysis of receptive multilingual meetings of participatory bodies in academic settings, in order to understand and improve communicative effectiveness. As part of the programme, internationals will be taught receptive Dutch, and Dutch locals will be taught to adapt to and anticipate multilingualism. At both ends, different cultural backgrounds are taken into consideration as well.

This project aims to develop effective strategies for learning and using receptive multilingual communication among highly educated learners. The results can be used for developing language learning methods and help institutions create a more inclusive international environment.Check out the following links for more info on the awarded project , the preparatory project on multilingualism at Utrecht University and Utrecht University’s bilingual language policy .

Tasks for the PhD candidate:

• Completion and defense of a PhD thesis within four years.
• publication of at least three peer-reviewed articles in established international journals;
• regular presentation of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• co-organization of project workshops, language training and conferences;
• participation in training programmes and international expert meetings organised by the project;
• participation in relevant training programmes provided by the Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS and the Utrecht University graduate school, the National Graduate School of Linguistics (LOT) and other organisations;
• participation in teaching on relevant areas at the BA or MA level in years 2 and 3 of the project.