Work Packages

Lead Beneficiary: University of Mannheim (Florence Oloff); Co-Lead: University of Zurich (Noah Bubenhofer)

WP1 explores the complex interdependence of technological tools, linguistic-communicative practices and forms of Language Awareness to identify the types of knowledge and skills needed to responsibly use these tools (e.g., regarding gender bias) and to elaborate scientifically sound proposals on how to improve digital and AI-tools so they are sensitive to plurilingual matters and plurilingual users’ needs. The integration of large-scale empirical discourse analysis, ethnographic fieldwork and corpus-based investigation will allow the development of research-based strategies at European level to identify and help to avoid stereotyped language. WP1 draws on a combination of research methods including corpus linguistics, discourse analysis, ethnographic observation and qualitative interviews. These methods will be applied to media corpora, interface designs, educational and workplace settings and to online dictionaries and AI-generated texts in multiple languages.

5 Individual Research Projects (IRPs 1 to 5) are dedicated to achieving the objectives of WP1. IRP1-5 address the conceptual and empirical challenges of understanding Language Awareness and pluri-/multilingualism in the context of digital communication. IRP1 focuses on the characterisation of media and institutional discourses on Language Awareness and pluri-/multilingualism, across various languages and national contexts, IRP2 assesses language ideologies in contexts such as industry, science and politics, and their role in shaping metalinguistic and critical behaviour; IRP3 analyses selected digital multilingual tools and their use in professional and educational settings. IRP4 and IRP5 investigate stereotypical language patterns and existing bias especially regarding gender, race and ethnicity in digital dictionaries and thesauri (IRP4) and in AI-generated texts (IRP5); the results will contribute to raise Metalinguistic Awareness and Critical Language Awareness of lexicographers, developers and computational linguists.

Lead Beneficiary: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Ludwig Fesenmeier); Co-Lead: Charles University (Vitek Dovalil)

WP2 conducts cross-cultural analyses of language management strategies and regulation in language policy regarding the promotion of the individuals’ plurilingual repertoire and the implementation of assumed pluri-/multilingual goals in digital resources and tools as well as AI technologies at the European, national and regional levels with an unprecedent openness to the (endangered) indigenous regional and minority languages. By using a discourse analytical approach combined with corpus linguistics methods on the collected data (e.g., official documents on language policy on the different levels; on the national level in particular: DE, FR, LU, PL), WP2 models the diversity of the actors, positions and goals in language policy on the three target levels in the language policy framework of the Language Management Theory. The aim is to establish the theoretical and empirical basis for making research-based recommendations for a multilingual concept of Language Awareness that considers the different dynamics of each level.

3 Individual Research Projects (IRPs 6 to 8) are dedicated to achieving the objectives of WP2. They analyse and compare Language Awareness related practices on the linguacultural, discursive and sociolinguistic levels. The IRPs will lead to the identification of (the different kinds of) metalinguistic / critical activities and their respective actors on the European (IRP6), national (IRP7) and regional (IRP8) levels.

Lead Beneficiary: University of Milan (Carolina Flinz – Univ. Pavia); Co-Lead: Nova University Lisbon (Rute Costa)

Drawing on lexicographic, metalexicographic and terminological theoretical and methodological approaches, WP3 analyses multilingual corpora to identify terms, collocations and culture-specific lexical features relevant to learner’s lexicography and specialised translation in three very innovative areas of Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP): tourism, circular economy and Fintech. It will address multimodal and digital dimensions of Multilingual Multimedia Digital Lexical Information Systems (MMDLIS), emphasising the importance of usability through surveys and questionnaires to develop MMDLIS which include the basics of Language AwarenessA and corporate language system for promoting Language Awareness in a sustainable way.

3 Individual Research Projects (IRPs 9 to 11) are dedicated to achieving the objectives of WP3. IRP9-11 explore how MMDLIS can foster users’ Language Awareness and how to design such systems effectively in the context of LSP: IRP9 revolves around the conception of a specialised MMDLIS for the language of tourism; IRP10 concentrates on the dataset and technical design of specialised MMDLIS for circular economy; IRP11 investigates the multilingual terminological landscape of the Fintech sector, which has particularly significant implications for national banks and financial institutions in Europe.

Lead Beneficiary: University of Copenhagen (Petra Daryai-Hansen); Co-Lead: University of Mannheim (Johannes Müller-Lancé)

In light of technological advances in digital tools and resources, as well as the ongoing migration crisis, WP4 reconsiders main concepts and approaches to language learning and teaching: it investigates Practical Language Awareness, Metalinguistic Awareness, and Critical Language Awareness as well as learner autonomy, motivation and plurilingualism from the learners’ perspective. It conducts pedagogical experiments and analyses interview, survey and classroom data, as well as curricula and language teaching/learning materials. WP4 will produce guidelines for students, teachers, teacher trainers and decision-makers and innovative teaching materials, resources and pathways for formal and non-formal language learning in a digital Europe.

3 Individual Research Projects (IRPs 12 to 14) are dedicated to achieving the objectives of WP4. IRP12-14 focus on (non)formal language learning, with a particular emphasis on languages of migration and Less Commonly Taught Languages: IRP12 investigates learner motivations regarding home and additional languages in a digital Europe; IRP13 compares the integration of migration languages and GenAI in curricula and teaching materials. IRP14 examines the relative advantages of authentic language (through corpora) and machine-produced language.

Lead Beneficiary: University of Copenhagen (Mirjam Schmuck); Co-Lead: University of Vienna (Eva Vetter)

Objectives:
– Ensure the recruitment of 14 Doctoral Candidates (DCs)
– Train the next generation of key actors to promote Language Awareness and pluri-/multilingualism across digital Europe until the PhD defence

Description of Work:
– Monitor the set-up and implementation of the Personalised Career Development Plan for each Doctoral Candidat in connection with each DC-Supervisor-Comittee
– Implement and monitor the training programme
– Implement an E-learning platform and ensure regular follow-up

Lead Beneficiary: University of Warsaw (Ewa Żebrowska); Co-Lead: University of Milan (Fabio Mollica)

Objectives:
–  Ensure the smooth implementation of the Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication (DEC) activities
– set-up and implement the Plan for the dissemination and exploitation activities, including communication activities, and tools and methods for evaluation of the success of the DEC activities

Description of Work:
– Set-up, implement and monitor the Data Management Plan (DMP)
– Set-up a PDEC, update it and implement the actions
– Select and implement the tools used to evaluate these activities
– Coordinate the preparation of the MultiLAwa mobile exhibition

Lead Beneficiary: Université de Lorraine (Hélène Vinckel-Roisin)

Objectives (e.g):
– Ensure the project meets its objectives according to the contractual time and budget;
– Apply fair rules within the network to guarantee the success of the assigned objectives and the DCs’ training;
– Ensure common implementation of the 14 co-supervision agreements and promote an efficient joint supervisory framework during the project;
– Control the financial and budgetary means;
– Decide on necessary evolutions with respect to milestones;

Description of Work (e.g):
– Global strategic and technical management of the project
– Day-to-Day management
– Ensure the timely provision of all deliverables and yearly reports on the research & training progress and financial status
– Risks management