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Chapter 6. Language and inclusion in a multilingual environment

A bottom-up approach
  • Rudi Janssens✝
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Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy
This chapter is in the book Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy

Abstract

Since the turn of the century, two important social developments have had a considerable impact on daily life in most western European cities. The first is increasing mobility in a globalised world that transcends the traditional concept of migration and has even led to a paradigm shift in sociological thinking (‘new’ mobilities paradigm). A second related development is at the technological level, where communication patterns have changed significantly and prompted people to expand their networks beyond the local level. Both evolutions are most prominent in cities in which a growing number of citizens engage in different networks and traditional forms of social solidarity are under pressure. In this context, language plays a key role.

In this article, based on the case of Brussels, we investigate the dynamics behind the process of social inclusion in a mobile environment and the role that languages play in this. We set out from the Brussels pacification model and the analysis of the impact of mobility on the local population. Based on the shift in language use and citizens’ attitude towards multilingualism and living in a multicultural environment, we seek a breeding ground for inclusive policies through a bottom-up approach. The conclusions focus on its impact on Brussels and its potential significance for other cities.

Abstract

Since the turn of the century, two important social developments have had a considerable impact on daily life in most western European cities. The first is increasing mobility in a globalised world that transcends the traditional concept of migration and has even led to a paradigm shift in sociological thinking (‘new’ mobilities paradigm). A second related development is at the technological level, where communication patterns have changed significantly and prompted people to expand their networks beyond the local level. Both evolutions are most prominent in cities in which a growing number of citizens engage in different networks and traditional forms of social solidarity are under pressure. In this context, language plays a key role.

In this article, based on the case of Brussels, we investigate the dynamics behind the process of social inclusion in a mobile environment and the role that languages play in this. We set out from the Brussels pacification model and the analysis of the impact of mobility on the local population. Based on the shift in language use and citizens’ attitude towards multilingualism and living in a multicultural environment, we seek a breeding ground for inclusive policies through a bottom-up approach. The conclusions focus on its impact on Brussels and its potential significance for other cities.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. List of contributors xi
  5. Part I. Setting the scene
  6. Chapter 1. General introduction 3
  7. Chapter 2. Principles of integrated language policy 23
  8. Part II. Politics
  9. Chapter 3. Cross-jurisdictional linguistic cooperation in multilingual federations 45
  10. Chapter 4. How to upgrade the status of migrant languages in the European Union 67
  11. Chapter 5. Inclusion and mobility in the multilingual region of Vojvodina 87
  12. Part III. Society
  13. Chapter 6. Language and inclusion in a multilingual environment 111
  14. Chapter 7. The politics of inclusion, citizenship and multilingualism 129
  15. Chapter 8. Urban multilingualism 151
  16. Part IV. Education
  17. Chapter 9. Metalinguistic awareness in education as a tool for enhancing social inclusion 173
  18. Chapter 10. Educational capacity-building for linguistic inclusion and mobility 195
  19. Chapter 11. Higher education language policies for mobility and inclusion 215
  20. Part V. Mediation
  21. Chapter 12. Portraying linguistic exclusion 237
  22. Chapter 13. Migrants’ attitudes towards community interpreting 257
  23. Chapter 14. The language choices of exchange students 275
  24. Chapter 15. The role of intercomprehension in short-term mobility experiences in multilingual contexts 297
  25. Part VI. Policy
  26. Chapter 16. Effectiveness of policy measures and language dynamics 319
  27. Chapter 17. The ontology of the linguistic territoriality principle 343
  28. Chapter 18. Justifying language policies in mobile societies 361
  29. Chapter 19. Complexity in language matters 381
  30. Chapter 20. Language, mobility and inclusion 405
  31. Part VII. Frontiers of multilingualism
  32. Chapter 21. Multilingualism and security 427
  33. Chapter 22. Multilingualism and consumer protection 451
  34. Chapter 23. ‘Learning all from all’ 473
  35. Chapter 24. Language use in international retirement migration 487
  36. Chapter 25. Multilingualism and creativity 509
  37. Chapter 26. Does global English influence the perception of professional ethical dilemmas? 531
  38. Author index 555
  39. Subject index 565
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.9.06jan

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. List of contributors xi
  5. Part I. Setting the scene
  6. Chapter 1. General introduction 3
  7. Chapter 2. Principles of integrated language policy 23
  8. Part II. Politics
  9. Chapter 3. Cross-jurisdictional linguistic cooperation in multilingual federations 45
  10. Chapter 4. How to upgrade the status of migrant languages in the European Union 67
  11. Chapter 5. Inclusion and mobility in the multilingual region of Vojvodina 87
  12. Part III. Society
  13. Chapter 6. Language and inclusion in a multilingual environment 111
  14. Chapter 7. The politics of inclusion, citizenship and multilingualism 129
  15. Chapter 8. Urban multilingualism 151
  16. Part IV. Education
  17. Chapter 9. Metalinguistic awareness in education as a tool for enhancing social inclusion 173
  18. Chapter 10. Educational capacity-building for linguistic inclusion and mobility 195
  19. Chapter 11. Higher education language policies for mobility and inclusion 215
  20. Part V. Mediation
  21. Chapter 12. Portraying linguistic exclusion 237
  22. Chapter 13. Migrants’ attitudes towards community interpreting 257
  23. Chapter 14. The language choices of exchange students 275
  24. Chapter 15. The role of intercomprehension in short-term mobility experiences in multilingual contexts 297
  25. Part VI. Policy
  26. Chapter 16. Effectiveness of policy measures and language dynamics 319
  27. Chapter 17. The ontology of the linguistic territoriality principle 343
  28. Chapter 18. Justifying language policies in mobile societies 361
  29. Chapter 19. Complexity in language matters 381
  30. Chapter 20. Language, mobility and inclusion 405
  31. Part VII. Frontiers of multilingualism
  32. Chapter 21. Multilingualism and security 427
  33. Chapter 22. Multilingualism and consumer protection 451
  34. Chapter 23. ‘Learning all from all’ 473
  35. Chapter 24. Language use in international retirement migration 487
  36. Chapter 25. Multilingualism and creativity 509
  37. Chapter 26. Does global English influence the perception of professional ethical dilemmas? 531
  38. Author index 555
  39. Subject index 565
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