This book brings together a broad, interdisciplinary group of leading scholars to critically assess a recent proposal within translanguaging theory called deconstructivism: the view that discrete or 'named' languages do not exist. Contributors explore important topics in relation to the deconstructivist turn in translanguaging, including epistemology, language ideology, bilingual linguistic competence, codeswitching, bilingual first language acquisition, the neurolinguistics of bilingualism, the significance of language naming to Indigenous language reclamation efforts, implications for bilingual education and language rights, and the effects of translanguaging on immersion programs for endangered languages. Contributing authors converge on support for a multilingual perspective on translanguaging which affirms the pedagogical and conceptual aims of translanguaging but rejects deconstructivism. The book makes a valuable contribution to the development of translanguaging theory and will be required reading for scholars and students interested in one of the most vibrant and vital debates in contemporary applied linguistics.
Jeff MacSwan is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Language Education at the University of Maryland, USA. He is also Professor of Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, and affiliate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, the Center for the Advanced Study of Language, and the Maryland Language Science Center. His research focuses on the linguistic study of bilingualism and codeswitching (or language alternation), and its implications for theories about the role of language in educational settings for multilingual students.
Title: Multilingual Perspectives on Translanguaging: 1 (Language, Education and Diversity)
Author: Jeff MacSwan
ISBN: 9781800415683
Binding:
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Publication Date: 2022-07-13
Number of Pages: 392
Weight: 0.7172 kg
Multilingual Perspectives on Translanguaging provides insightful answers to questions such as the following and more: If translanguaging entails that languages are mere theoretical constructs, why does the term suggest 'crossing languages'? If they do not exist, why do speakers claim their languages index their community identities? The chapters are theoretically and empirically well-grounded, resulting in a thought-provoking and stimulating book. * Salikoko S. Mufwene, University of Chicago, USA *
MacSwan brings together a powerhouse of established and esteemed contributors to advocate for a multilingual perspective on translanguaging in the study of inter-speaker language variation, codeswitching, and psycholinguistics and practices of language policy, bilingual education, and teacher education. This book is packed with powerful arguments that multilingualism is both psychologically real and socially meaningful. Essential reading for those interested in translanguaging and advocating for social and linguistic justice. * Kendall A. King, University of Minnesota, USA *
This is a very important volume. Because ideologies and conceptualizations of language matter, it will be valuable and thought-provoking for everyone engaged in social justice initiatives that focus on the instruments of expression of minoritized populations. * Guadalupe Valdes, Stanford University, USA *
The brilliance of Jeff MacSwan's volume lies in its detailed analyses of the always present tensions and contradictions between critical theory and the panoply of empirical research. The authors correctly argue that language liberation does not rest on the erasure of labels that have been used to reproduce linguistic colonialism. What matters most is the keen comprehension of the complexity of achieving conscientization in language de-colonization. This is a must-read book for all language researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. * Donaldo Macedo, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA *
