Dr. Ily Hollebeke

As a postdoctoral researcher, I specialise in early multilingualism and multilingual communication. I am also an active member of the BCLS Research Hub Team, which collaboratively organises Skills Labs, Lecture Series, Social Gatherings, and Outreach initiatives. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to hear from you! 

Research

During my PhD as part of the Pro-M project, I investigated how multilingual families in Flanders approach their various languages, particularly during early childhood. The project culminated in the development of practical tools, created in collaboration with Opgroeien, VBJK, and Iedereen Leest, to support multilingualism within families, early childcare settings, and libraries. Later, I extended my research to Ireland in partnership with Dr. La Morgia and Mother Tongues, comparing how multilingual families navigate similar challenges in a different cultural context. After completing my PhD, I joined the international MentalHealth4All project, where I investigated cultural and language barriers in (referrals to) mental health care. My work included developing educational resources to help social and (mental) health care professionals better serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Currently, I am combining my passion for sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics by studying how multilinguals manage their languages (a process referred to as language control) and how their environment influences this process. My research looks at developmental aspects in children as well as the effects of aging in older generations, offering insights into how multilingualism evolves over a lifetime.