Paper Presentation Translanguaging Regular Presentation (30 min)

TRANSLANGUAGING AS A FUNCTION OF TRANSCULTURALITY

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In this presentation I will seek for a new way to understand the phenomenon of translanguaging. I will argue that translanguaging is foremost a cultural phenomenon in the sense of how we form our ways of life and beliefs on how the world works, and that it occurs as a function of how we use language as a means of finding meaning and confirmation of those beliefs, in a globalized world where information comes to us in multiple media and languages. In order to reach there, I will first deconstruct the mainstream Herderian concept of folk- and nationbound culture, as it seems inadequate to capture how we deal with our globalized life circumstances and choices, especially on the level of languaging. I will also suggest that the concept of transculturality as advanced by German philosopher Wolfgang Welsch (2001), may serve the purpose of understanding this phenomenon better. After briefly discussing the concept, I examine the idea of how translanguaging becomes a symptom of a transcultural process in which people no longer make a meaningful distinction that decides their identity, between their “own” language or a “second” language. The discussion on English as a Lingua Franca and how to teach language in this perspective, can also be seen in the context of this framework. I propose that the concept of transculturality may provide an insightful basis for understanding the phenomenon of translanguaging so that more profound approaches to this can be found in the field of education.

  • Theodoor Richard

    Born in Holland, I live and work in Taiwan as Research Fellow with NCHU. My research interests include transculturality, languaging in a globalized world, sustainability culture, and culture in the Anthropocene.