Dr G.J. Kootstra (Gerrit Jan)

Gerrit Jan Kootstra is an expert on the psycholinguistics of multilingualism and language acquisition. He works on the cognitive mechanisms of language use and learning in multilingual children and adults. He focuses specifically on the way multilinguals are influenced by both their languages in their language use, and on the phenomenon of 'priming', i.e., the way in which people adapt the way they produce and comprehend language to their own and each other’s recent language use. He investigates, among other things, to what extent this phenomenon plays a role in multilingual language use, and to what extent it can be linked to processes of language learning.

In addition to these fundamental, psycholinguistic interests, Gerrit Jan Kootstra also has an interest in making the connection between scientific research and practical aspects of multilingualism and language learning, e.g., by informing parents and/or school teachers on this topic.

• First and second language acquisition; Language processing and cognition

• Cognitive and developmental aspects of multilingualism