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Bimodal Bilingual Studies

JUPAS Code
Programme Code
Faculty
Study Period
Open for
JUPAS Code
N/A
Programme Code
BMBLN
Faculty
Arts
Study Period
2 Years
Open for
Non-JUPAS Senior Year
Programme Introduction

Hong Kong society is increasingly aware of the social diversity and linguistic needs of different social groups, and active measures have been taken by various sectors of society to identify ways to tackle this social phenomenon. The two-year top-up BA programme in Bimodal Bilingual Studies is designed to address these needs. It combines spoken language linguistics and sign language linguistics in the curriculum, emphasizing the groundbreaking awareness of the visual modality as another medium for natural languages in human communication. Students graduating from the programme are expected to achieve a high level of intellectual ability, with bilingual or multilingual proficiency, part of which is sign language, to function competently in society. They are expected to be part of a workforce that embraces diversity of ethnicity, language, culture and thought in professional, clinical and social practice.


Our Curriculum

Students enrolled in this programme will be given foundational training in General Linguistics and Sign Linguistics to help them appreciate why both sign and spoken language enjoy equal linguistic status for human communication, how children acquire spoken and/or sign language in a monolingual or bimodal bilingual fashion, how adults may become bimodal bilingual when they acquire a sign language as a second or third language, and how interaction between people using spoken and sign languages creates intriguing benefits for humans in their language, cognitive and socio-psychological development. This new understanding of language is achieved by requiring students to engage in learning Hong Kong Sign Language at levels of linguistic capabilities prescribed by the Common European Framework of References for Languages – Sign Languages, as well as courses that apply knowledge of General Linguistics and Sign Linguistics for certain professional settings, to prepare them to enter related professions with social acumen and bimodal bilingual sensitivity.


Career Prospects

With a solid understanding of the benefits of bimodal bilingual communication in social and cultural milieu involving users of both sign and spoken languages, our graduates are ready to undertake responsibilities in professional settings to support the communication, education, welfare and social advancement of under-privileged groups.

Those considering furthering their education may apply for postgraduate programmes in education, linguistics, social work, speech-language pathology, translation or other related disciplines. With further training, they can become effective educators, sign interpreters, social welfare and counselling workers, psychologists, speech and language therapists, NGO administrators or social entrepreneurs.

If you are interested in this programme, please review the application requirements and deadlines specific to the respective admission scheme to increase your chances of getting accepted.

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More Information:

Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages:

G/F, Leung Kau Kui Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

(852) 3943 1516

lin@cuhk.edu.hk