Abstract

The studies in this collection seek to examine the notions of ‘linguistic diversity’ and ‘hybridity’ through the lenses of new critical theories and theoretical frameworks embedded within the broader discussion of the sociolinguistics of globalization. The chapters include critical inquiries into online/offline languages in society, language users, language learners and language teachers who may operate ‘between’ languages and are faced with decisions to navigate, negotiate and invent or re-invent languages, local and global and virtual spaces. The research took place in contexts that include linguistic landscapes, schools, classrooms, neighborhoods and virtual spaces of Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, South Korea and the USA.

Relying on sophisticated translanguaging and translingual analytical frameworks, this timely book explores the multiple complementary and conflicting ways global language practices across multiple semiotic modalities are currently performed around the world in different communities. Methodologically, the book is given a strong sense of immediacy, relying heavily as it does on first person narratives as a mode of data elicitation.

This is a must-read collection for anybody searching for novel ideas in the field of the sociolinguistics of globalisation. This timely and exceptional book recognises diversity both as a challenge and as an opportunity. It focuses on the importance of everyday language practices, as well as other non-linguistic, semiotic and spatial relations. A highly compelling volume which takes a critical inquiry approach to post-multilingual diversity.

Tyler Andrew Barrett is an academic who teaches in the Division of Continuing Education at the University of California, Irvine, USA. His research interests include the sociolinguistics of globalization, language ideology, language policy and translingualism.

Sender Dovchin is Senior Research Fellow in the School of Education, Curtin University, Australia. Her research interests include translingualism, the sociolinguistics of globalization, critical applied linguistics and bi/multilingualism.