“Early Childhood: Language, Multimodality, and Multilingualism”

These study days, co-organized by the Universities of Le Mans and Montpellier-
(Faculty of Education), as well as by the AFaLaC association, focus on early childhood—a crucial period in human development, particularly in terms of language and socialization—especially in contexts of migration or, more broadly, language contact. We would like to examine this topic from an interdisciplinary perspective, placing the issue of language—understood in its multimodal reality—at the center of our reflections and discussions.

Communication isn’t just about words; it’s multisensory and
ly driven by emotions. We now know just how much gestures, rhythm, rhymes, and sounds—as well as the musicality of words, the voice, and language, and melody—captivate babies from the moment they are born. Universal oral traditions for children, which set words to rhythm, play a role in passing down knowledge, build the bond that connects children to the world around them, and are a source of emotions.

However, access to language and culture are closely interrelated. Culture is, by
, the quintessential object of joint attention—an indispensable prerequisite for language, as Bruner describes it. It is therefore important for everyone to champion the need to sing, read, dance, paint, draw, or make music… Thus, in migration contexts, cultural media serve the same functions as transitional objects: they provide reassurance and a sense of security.
The language of the heart, the language of the body, the “comfort blanket” language, a language that unites or divides—
—a language that marks identity—it always develops through interaction with adults…
What avenues does research open up for us to support parents and professional
in their interactions with very young children? How can we help them
develop their language and thereby contribute to the establishment of a more egalitarian and inclusive society?

To address these key questions in the field of early childhood, the
interventions will all be based on empirical studies.

At the Le Mans site, only the conferences are available via videoconference (after
registration and payment on the website by clicking here).

The sessions at the Montpellier site are available remotely, but all
communications will take place on-site. The study days in Montpellier are
available free of charge. However, registration is required on the website (click on “In-Person Conferences in Montpellier,” even for remote access).