Intercultural Contact, Language Learning and Migration

Description

At the heart of this volume lies an exploration of what actually happens to languages and their users when cultures come into contact. What actions do supra-national institutions, nation states, communities and individuals take in response to questions raised by the increasingly diverse forms of migration experienced in a globalized world? The volume reveals the profound impact that decisions made at national and international level can have on the lives of the individual migrant, language student, or speech community. Equally, it evaluates the broader ramifications of actions taken by migrant communities and individual language learners around issues of language learning, language maintenance and intercultural contact. Reflecting Jan Blommaert's assertion that in a world shaped by globalization, what is needed is 'a theory of language in society. . . of changing language in a changing society', this volume argues that researchers must increasingly seek diverse methodological approaches if they are to do justice to the diversity of experience and response they encounter. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Notes on Contributors Acknowledgements Introduction: Approaching Migration, Intercultural Contact and Language Learning Migration Intercultural contact Language learning The contact zone Structure References Part 1: Migration and Language Contact 1 Migration and Language Management: The Jewish Experience Jewish migration in biblical times Migration after the destruction of the Temple Migration into separation Migrating back to Zion Social and cultural contact after migration Notes References 2 Linguistic Vitality and the Polish Community in France Introduction Polish migration to France: Socio-historical background Methodology Research issues Language acquisition Language maintenance and transmission: Polish L1 Multilingual families: Intergenerational practices Conclusion Notes References 3 Language Planners’ Cultural Positioning Strategies in Joint Negotiation of Meaning Introduction Ideological-cultural positioning Some methodological considerations Presenting the interviews: The discursive framework Multilingualism policy-making in action Textual anchoring Conclusion Appendix: Excerpts presented to language planners during the interview Notes References Part 2: Language Learning: Communicating in the Contact Zone 4 Emergent New Literacies and the Mobile Phone: Informal Language Learning, Voice and Identity in a South African Township Introduction Background to the research Informal learning and church life: Pearl A Supervernacular as a ‘substitute language’: The story of Linda Learning the ‘MXIT language’: Lisa and Ernestine Conclusion Notes References 5 Language and Culture: Attitudes Towards, and Perceptions of, English L2 Acquisition among Adult Polish Migrants in Ireland Introduction: The post-2004 Polish migration to Ireland Language and culture Research methodology Results and discussion Concluding remarks Note References 6 Face-to-Face Tandem Language Learning: Evidence of Intercultural Learning in a Zone of Proximal Development for Intercultural Competence Introduction Principles of tandem language learning Intercultural communication integrated with tandem language learning The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) in a tandem exchange First-hand experience of L1 speakers: Motivation and affect Context of the study Methodology Findings and discussion Conclusion References 7 E-Portfolio Self-Assessment of Intercultural Communicative Competence: Helping Language Learners to Become Autonomous Intercultural Speakers Introduction From ‘native speaker’ to ‘intercultural speaker’ The European language portfolio: A tool for developing‘ the competence to learn cultures autonomously’? Research project Results and discussion Conclusion Notes References Part 3: Migration and Contact: Community and Individual Experience 8 Heteroglossic Becomings: Listening to, and Learning from, Our Multiple Voices Introduction Incident 1: The resourcefulness of the foreigner position Incident 2: The desire to ‘do one’s own thing’ Incident 3: The everydayness of heteroglossia Incident 4: The preference to be non-categorizable Heteroglossic becomings Commentary References 9 The Catalan Nova Cançó: Resistance and Identity Through Song Introduction Origins of La Nova Cançó The process of nation building – historical background La Nova Cançó: Beginnings and protest against the regime The late fifties and sixties The seventies The eighties The nineties and the new millennium Perceptions of Catalan song within the Spanish state Conclusion Copyright acknowledgement Notes References Discography 10 Wandering Words: Reflections on Ambivalent Cultural Belonging and the Creative Potential of Linguistic Multiplicity References Conclusion References Index