Chapter 11. On some fashionable terms in multilingualism research
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François Grin
Abstract
This chapter examines, in a critical way, four different notions encountered in certain strands of academic discourse about multilingualism, which have acquired an influential position in some segments of contemporary applied linguistics. The four notions reviewed here are “superdiversity”, “languaging”, “commodification”, and “English as a lingua franca (ELF)”. The argument made in this chapter is that, while each of these concepts is problematic on its own, their combination gives rise to particularly problematic implications for language policy. The policy stances that can be derived from those notions are potentially harmful on allocative and distributive grounds, since they may undermine both linguistic diversity and linguistic justice. This chapter shows why they should be avoided, or at least substantially amended, in order to formulate policy responses aiming at the preservation of a genuine, sustainable and fair multilingualism. While the very use of these four notions raises questions regarding the evolution of applied linguistics, investigating them also matters to social scientists working on language issues, particularly language policy. The reason for this is that social scientists need to rely on sound analytical constructs in order to come to grips with the complexity of language and multilingualism as research objects, and as areas in which actual policies are selected, designed, implemented and evaluated.
Abstract
This chapter examines, in a critical way, four different notions encountered in certain strands of academic discourse about multilingualism, which have acquired an influential position in some segments of contemporary applied linguistics. The four notions reviewed here are “superdiversity”, “languaging”, “commodification”, and “English as a lingua franca (ELF)”. The argument made in this chapter is that, while each of these concepts is problematic on its own, their combination gives rise to particularly problematic implications for language policy. The policy stances that can be derived from those notions are potentially harmful on allocative and distributive grounds, since they may undermine both linguistic diversity and linguistic justice. This chapter shows why they should be avoided, or at least substantially amended, in order to formulate policy responses aiming at the preservation of a genuine, sustainable and fair multilingualism. While the very use of these four notions raises questions regarding the evolution of applied linguistics, investigating them also matters to social scientists working on language issues, particularly language policy. The reason for this is that social scientists need to rely on sound analytical constructs in order to come to grips with the complexity of language and multilingualism as research objects, and as areas in which actual policies are selected, designed, implemented and evaluated.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors ix
- List of abbreviations xvii
- List of figures, tables, charts and pictures xix
- Chapter 1. The politics of multilingualism 1
-
Part I. Reconceptualising multilingualism and collective identity
- Chapter 2. The politics of multilingualism in Canada 19
- Chapter 3. A Russian-speaking nation? 39
- Chapter 4. The impact of mobility and migration on the identity-constructing policy in Brussels 65
- Chapter 5. From glossophagic hegemony to multilingual pluralism? 89
- Chapter 6. Transient linguistic landscapes of activism 111
-
Part II. Linguistic hegemony, insecurity and linguistic justice
- Chapter 7. How to measure linguistic justice? 145
- Chapter 8. Linguistic justice and English as a Lingua Franca 167
- Chapter 9. The promise and pitfalls of global English 201
- Chapter 10. Languages, norms and power in a globalised context 223
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Part III. Lingua Franca and global linguistic governance
- Chapter 11. On some fashionable terms in multilingualism research 247
- Chapter 12. English, the Lingua Nullius of global hegemony 275
- Chapter 13. Idealism or pragmatism? 305
- Chapter 14. European integration and the variety of languages 333
- Author index 359
- Subject index 365
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- List of contributors ix
- List of abbreviations xvii
- List of figures, tables, charts and pictures xix
- Chapter 1. The politics of multilingualism 1
-
Part I. Reconceptualising multilingualism and collective identity
- Chapter 2. The politics of multilingualism in Canada 19
- Chapter 3. A Russian-speaking nation? 39
- Chapter 4. The impact of mobility and migration on the identity-constructing policy in Brussels 65
- Chapter 5. From glossophagic hegemony to multilingual pluralism? 89
- Chapter 6. Transient linguistic landscapes of activism 111
-
Part II. Linguistic hegemony, insecurity and linguistic justice
- Chapter 7. How to measure linguistic justice? 145
- Chapter 8. Linguistic justice and English as a Lingua Franca 167
- Chapter 9. The promise and pitfalls of global English 201
- Chapter 10. Languages, norms and power in a globalised context 223
-
Part III. Lingua Franca and global linguistic governance
- Chapter 11. On some fashionable terms in multilingualism research 247
- Chapter 12. English, the Lingua Nullius of global hegemony 275
- Chapter 13. Idealism or pragmatism? 305
- Chapter 14. European integration and the variety of languages 333
- Author index 359
- Subject index 365
