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Research Group on Languages

The Research Group on Languages was created in 2007 with the aim of studying the use of languages from a broad and multidisciplinary perspective, with emphasis on the distinctive features of Catalan language in Andorra.

Our research areas are:

  • Sociolinguistics in Andorra
  • Application of the systemic methodology to the study of the use of Catalan in Andorra
  • Neology of Catalan language
  • Multilingualism and language policies at the university
  • Language and communication technologies
  • Teaching and learning of languages
  • Cultural, identity and linguistic diversity

The group’s general objectives are:

  • Studying language in use
  • Identifying and studying the distinctive features language use in Andorra
  • Analysing the trends in lexical and semantic creation in the Andorran media
  • Testing new methods for the study of language use
  • Analysing the evolution of the use of Catalan with respect to the rest of languages that coexist in Andorra
  • Analysing the evolution of language use in ICT
  • Analysing language competences and use at the university
  • Designing and implementing policies and strategies for a multilingual university
  • Assessing the impact of ICT on the acquisition and teaching of second and third languages
  • Working together with other research groups
Nadia 2024

Nadia Azzouz Boudadi

nazzouz@uda.ad

Coordinator. PhD in the field of Applied linguistics and educational technology. Degrees in Translation and interpretation and Foreign languages teacher. Professor at the Universitat d’Andorra.

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Cèlia Baró Gaillard

cbaro@uda.ad

PhD candidate in the field of Sociolinguistics and Pedagogy Master in Hispanic philology and Master in English philology, degree in Hispanic philology and English philology. Professor at the University of Andorra.

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Carolina Bastida Serra

cbastida@uda.ad

PhD in the field of Linguistics and electronic communication. Master in Language and communication, degree in Hispanic philology. Professor at the Universitat d’Andorra.

 

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Bárbara Cerrato Rodríguez

bcerrato@uda.ad

PhD in the field of Translation and Intercultural Mediation Master in Translation and Cultural Mediation and Master in Teacher Training, degree in Translation and Interpretation. Professor at the University of Andorra.

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Ferran Costa Marimon

fcosta@uda.ad

PhD in the field of Applied linguistics and educational technology. Master in Applied Linguistics, degree in International Relations, postgraduate in SMEs management. Professor at the Universitat d’Andorra. @FerranCostaAND

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Miquel Nicolau i Vila

mnicolau@uda.ad

PhD in Electronic Engineering. Master in intelligent systems and parallel and distributed environments. Computer engineer, degree in Philosophy. Rector of the University of Andorra.

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Carolina Poussier

cpoussier@uda.ad

Support staff. Master in Applied Linguistics and 25 years of experience in teaching languages in plurilingual settings. Graduated in Teacher training (foreign languages). Professor at the Universitat d’Andorra.

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Fang Qian

qfang@uda.ad

PhD candidate in the field of Chinese language teaching and learning. Master in Business Administration. Bachelor in French Language and literature. Professor at the Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (YNUFE) (China).

ONGOING RESEARCH LINES

 

MULTILINGUALISM

In this line, different aspects of multilingualism are studied both within the framework of the University of Andorra (UdA) and in the context of the country, following the multilingual approach of the UdA from the beginnings of the Language Research Group to the present. This approach includes strategies to promote Catalan, as the official language, as well as second languages such as English, French, Portuguese and Chinese.

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PROJECT 1. Multilingualism and university

This project derives from the need of the University of Andorra to know about its sociolinguistic reality and to have an explicit language policy adapted to the real setting and immediate needs of the University and the country, as well as to promote language learning among the university community, with a special emphasis on English.

Objectives:

  1. Know the sociolinguistic reality of the University and provide it with a language plan that promotes multilingualism and the sustainability of the native language.
  2. Propose actions to promote the learning and use of languages at the UdA.

Actions developed:

  1. Diagnosis: analysis of the initial sociolinguistic reality. Detection and prioritization of needs
  2. Regulation: definition of strategies and actions, drafting of the Action Plan, setting an achievement horizon
  3. Implementation: application of training, advice and dissemination actions
  4. Monitoring and evaluation: analysis and monitoring of the various actions implemented, as well as the sociolinguistic situation subsequent to the implementation of the Plan (longitudinal study).

 

PROJECT 2. Chinese teaching and learning in the educational systems of multilingual small countries and proposal to introduce Chinese language teaching and learning in Andorra educational System (doctoral thesis)

China and Andorra established diplomatic relations in 1994. In 2016, the Confucius Classroom of Andorra was created, and the University of Andorra began to offer Chinese language courses. Developing a doctoral thesis in the field of Chinese language can increase mutual knowledge between both countries and cultures and their relations.

Objective:

Explore the feasibility of implementing Chinese teaching in multilingual environments in the Andorran education system, to promote multilingual and intercultural competences in the Andorran educational system.

Actions developed:

  1. Definition of the field of research
  • Defensa del Projecte de recerca del doctorat

 

PROJECT 3. Discursive competence in English from the teaching of metacognitive strategies and greater autonomy of the learner: pedagogical implementation at the University of Andorra (doctoral thesis)

This research aims to be a useful proposal, with the capacity to impact students and improve higher education in the medium and long term.

Objectives:

  1. Determine what knowledge of learning strategies UDA students have, how they use them, and whether it is conscious use.
  2. Determine what students’ beliefs about writing.
  3. Determine the confidence they feel when writing (self-efficacy).
  4. To study students’ individual and paired metacognitive reflection before, during and after their written productions.
  5. Evaluate the impact of the activities and materials provided by the didactic sequence on students’ performance and self-regulation processes.

Actions carried out:

  1. Defence of the doctoral research project
  2. Defence of the doctoral programme progress report

 

LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGY

This line of research converges the fields of research of the latest GREL doctoral theses. The interest in exploring how technologies can contribute to the improvement of communication and language learning, especially second languages such as English, have led the group to create this new line of research.

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PROJECT 1. Language learning and emerging technologies

One of the lines of research that has had more trajectory within the GREL is related to languages and technology, with three doctoral theses focused on these aspects. That is why the members of the group intend to launch a new common project to investigate educational innovations in the field of emerging technologies in language learning.

Objectives:

  1. Explore successful experiences in the field of technology applied to language learning (CALL and MALL) that could be implemented at the University of Andorra.
  2. Analyse the impact of communication technologies on learning the oral modality of a language 2 in higher education.
  3. Analyse the impact of communication technologies on the acquisition of communicative competence in a language 2.
  4. Explore both students’ perceptions and real impacts on their second language learning outcomes.

Actions developed:

  1. Definition of the field of research
  2. Literature Review (ongoing)

 

TRANSLATION

In this line, translation is used as a strategy for promoting knowledge and use of languages.

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PROJECT 1. Catalan translation of International Financial Reporting Standards (in collaboration with GREF, UB and UOC)

The project “Translation into Catalan of International Financial Reporting Standards” arises from the teaching need to have an official translation into Catalan of the International Financial Reporting Standards, issued by the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation, of which Andorra is a member. These standards are the international standard with regard to financial information and teaching in Catalan In this field, it is necessary to have these texts, and the terminology derived from them, in the language of instruction. Although it is not strictly a research project, the processes necessary to carry out this project require research. On the other hand, although it is not the main objective, results can be derived that can be published in scientific forums.

Objectives:

  1. Translating International Financial Reporting Standards into Catalan.
  2. Provide teachers in the field of financial economics in Catalan with essential material to be able to adequately convey certain contents in Catalan.

Actions carried out:

  1. Translation of financial reporting standards
  2. Linguistic review of financial reporting standards
  3. Conceptual review of financial reporting standards
  4. Meetings to agree on the translation of financial reporting standards

 

PROJECT 2. The expression of difference and hybridization through translation.

Translation Studies is established as a starting point for analysing the current linguistic and cultural reality of liquid modernity, where difference and diversity prevail, as more and more people inhabit the intersection between several cultures at the same time. More specifically, this project seeks to explore language as a tool to claim difference and otherness. Starting from Translation Studies, the different intersemiotic translations of the female body are also analysed, especially in the case of women who live on the border between two cultures.

Objectives:

  1. Explore the use of (non-)translation as a tool to defend difference and otherness, especially in the case of hybrid literature.
  2. Explore the use of culinary elements as a way to translate otherness into hybrid literature.
  3. Study the different intersemiotic translations of the female body, especially in the case of those women who live on the border between two cultures, as is the case of the crossed writers.

Actions carried out:

  1. Publications in the field in different journals and congresses (see section publications).

 

 

COMPLETED PROJECTS

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PROJECT. NADIC – Neologisms for updating the dictionary

Project coordinated by the University Pompeu Fabra with the participation of seven Catalan-speaking universities.

Objective:

  1. Select and analyse the neologisms of the Neology Observatory to offer the Philological Section of the IEC a corpus consisting of a thousand non-normative words that are good candidates to update the normative dictionary.

 

PROJECT. The use of technologies in the English classrooms of the Andorran education system (doctoral thesis)

Objective:

  1. Determine the attitudes, beliefs and practices of students and teachers of the Andorran School towards the use of new mobile technologies in the English classroom.

 

PROJECT. Effect of Gamification on foreign language learning (doctoral thesis)

Objective:

  1. Explore the effects of Gamification on (1) learning English at the University of Andorra and (2) more specifically on oral production competence.

 

PROJECT. Intergenerational linguistic uses and attitudes of the population of Portuguese origin in Andorra

Objective:

  1. Explore the evolution of language use and attitudes from parents to children among the population of Portuguese origin resident in Andorra, analysing the most spoken languages in Andorra: Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese and French.

GREL’s talks, conferences, journal articles, book chapters and doctoral theses, classified according to the areas of research.

Neology

 

Multilingualism

 

Emotions and electronic communication

 

Linguistic attitudes of school population in Andorra

 

Implementation of the systemic methodology to the evolution of the use of Catalan language in Andorra

 

Use of technologies at the English classroom of the Andorran educational system

  • Costa, F. (2017). “Policies, beliefs and practices on the use of technology in the EFL classroom in the Andorran school system”. 25th EUROCALL Conference. University of Southampton, 23-26 August 2017.
  • Costa, F. (2016). [Ressenya del llibre Languages for Specific Purposes in the Digital Era, de E. Bárcena, T. Read i J. Arús (eds)]. Ibérica, 32, 258-261.

 

Effect of gamification on the learning of a foreign language

 

Cultural, identity and linguistic diversity

  • Cerrato Rodríguez, B. (2022). Las escritoras atravesadas: la configuración y (re)presentación de la realidad a través de la lengua, in Miradas cruzadas sobre las desigualdades y las identidades. ISBN 978-84-18167-77-5.
  • Cerrato Rodríguez, B. (2022). La globalización de la biografía: la (re)traducción identitaria en la modenidad líquida, in Miradas cruzadas sobre las desigualdades y las identidades. ISBN 978-84-18167-77-5.
  • Cerrato Rodríguez, B. (2022). Las escritoras atravesadas: la configuración y (re)presentación de la realidad a través de la lengua, in Lo que segrega también nos conecta. ISBN 978-84-1122-372-0.
  • Cerrato Rodríguez, B. (2022). La globalización de la biografía: la (re)traducción identitaria en la modernidad líquida, in El camino hacia las sociedades inclusivas. ISBN 978-84-1122-373-7.

 

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