David Singleton

Professor of Applied Linguistics

Research Interests

I have researched and published over the years across a very wide range of topics, including syllabus design, language awareness and taboo language, but my  principal areas of interest in recent times have been cross-linguistic influence (with particular reference to the psychotypological dimension), lexical acquisition/processing (with particular reference to the interface between the lexicon and other linguistic domains), multilingualism (with particular reference to the “new linguistic dispensation”) and the age factor in language acquisition (with particular reference to the critical period debate).

Selected Publications

• “The role of prior knowledge in L3 learning and use: further evidence of psychotypological dimensions”, in, The exploration of multilingualism: Development of research on L3, multilingualism and multiple language acquisition, eds. Aronin, L. and Hufeisen, B., Amsterdam, John Benjamins, 2009, 176-102. [Co-author: Ó Laoire, M.].
• “The language educational experience of Polish migrants in France and Ireland”, in Language learner autonomy: policy, curriculum, classroom, eds. O’Rourke, B. and Carson, L., Oxford. Peter Lang, 2010, 171-188. [Co-author: Debaene, E.].
• Co-editor, The diversity of multilingualism. Berlin/New York, 2010: Mouton de Gruyter. Special issue of the International Journal of the Sociology of Language. [Co-editor: Aronin, L.].
• “The polyvalence of taboo language”, in Ambiguity and the search for meaning: English and American Studies at the beginning of the 21st century. Volume 2: Language and culture, eds Jodlowiec, M and Lesniewska, J., Krakow, Jagiellonian University Press, 2010, 53-62.
• “Around and beyond the Critical Period Hypothesis”, in Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning. Volume II, ed. Hinkel, E, London, Routledge, 2011, 407-425 [Co-author: Munoz, C].
• “A critical review of age-related research on L2 ultimate attainment”, state of the art article, Language Teaching   44 (1) (2011), 1-35 [Co-author: Muñoz, C.].
• Co-editor, Input and learning context in second language acquisition. Berlin/New York, 2011: Mouton de Gruyter. Special issue of the International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 49 (2). [Co-editors: Howard, M, Ó Laoire, M.]
• “Ultimate attainment and the CPH: some thorny issues” in Comparative perspectives on language acquisition, eds. Watorek, M. Benazzo, S. and Hickmann, M. Bristol, Multilingual Matters Ltd., 2012, 188-203.
• Multilingualism. Amsterdam, John Benjamins, 2012 , ix +230pp. [Co-author:
  Aronin. L.]
•  “Multilingual lexical operations: keeping it all together ... and apart”, in Third language acquisition in adulthood, eds, Flynn, S. Rothman, J., Amsterdam, John Benjamins, in press

Teaching/Supervision

I teach timetabled modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. At both levels my classes mostly revolve around issues relating to language acquisition and the lexicon. I also supervise master’s level dissertations and doctoral projects. In regard to the latter activity, of the Ph.D. theses I have supervised, most have dealt with some aspect or other of the research interests detailed above, but I have also brought to successful conclusion doctoral research on motivation, the “year abroad” and language attrition. My current supervisees are working on aspects of vocabulary learning and multilingualism.

Professor Singleton on the TCD Research Support System

Contact Details

Centre for Language and Communication Studies
Room 4079 Arts Building
Trinity College
Dublin 2.

Telephone: +353 1 896 1232
Fax: +353 1 896 2941
Email: dsnglton@tcd.ie