Sociolinguistics of Place and Belonging: Perspectives from the margins

This volume explores the significance of 'place' and 'belonging' in understanding identification through language, particularly in rural and urbanized areas that are often overlooked. It highlights the ways in which people living in these margins create new ensembles from linguistic and cultural resources, giving them novel and ambiguous meanings. The contributors analyze language practices as dialectically related to political-economic processes and language ideologies, emphasizing the importance of studying the unspectacular in order to achieve a full understanding of the relationship between language, place, and belonging.

Format: Hardback
Length: 291 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2018
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Co

This volume explores the significance of concepts like 'place' and 'belonging' in understanding the dynamics of identification through language. It also presents a fresh avenue for sociolinguistic and linguistic anthropological research, specifically focusing on the margins. Rural and urbanized areas that are often perceived as marginal or peripheral to places that are explicitly recognized as mixed and hybridized have received relatively limited sociolinguistic attention. However, it is important to note that individuals residing in these supposedly less "spectacular margins" are not immune to the impacts of globalization and rapid technological change. They continually create new ensembles from linguistic and cultural resources, imbuing them with novel, unstable, and often ambiguous meanings.

The primary objective of this volume is to delve into the purportedly unspectacular in order to attain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between language, place, and belonging. The contributors to this volume approach language practices by analyzing them as dialectically interconnected with political-economic processes and language ideologies.

In the first chapter, the authors examine the role of place in shaping linguistic variation and identity. They argue that place plays a crucial role in the formation of linguistic identities, as individuals often associate their linguistic practices with specific locations and communities. The chapter highlights the importance of studying language in rural and urbanized areas that are often overlooked, as these spaces can reveal unique linguistic patterns and practices.

The second chapter explores the concept of belonging and its relationship to language. The authors argue that belonging is not a fixed or universal concept, but rather a dynamic and fluid process that is shaped by various factors such as social, cultural, and political contexts. They explore how language plays a role in constructing and negotiating belonging, particularly in marginalized communities.

The third chapter focuses on the role of language ideologies in shaping language practices and identities. The authors argue that language ideologies are powerful forces that influence how individuals perceive and use language. They explore how language ideologies are constructed and reproduced through social and cultural processes, and how they contribute to the marginalization of certain groups.

In the fourth chapter, the authors examine the relationship between language, place, and belonging in the context of globalization. They argue that globalization has led to the spread of English as a global language, which has had significant implications for local languages and cultures. The chapter explores how individuals negotiate the tensions between their local languages and the global language, and how they create new forms of linguistic and cultural hybridity.

The fifth chapter explores the role of language in the construction of national identities. The authors argue that national identities are often constructed through language, as language is used to differentiate individuals and groups from others. They explore how language is used to promote national unity and identity, as well as how it can be used to perpetuate divisions and conflicts.

The sixth chapter examines the relationship between language, place, and belonging in the context of migration. The authors argue that migration has led to the formation of new linguistic and cultural communities, as individuals bring their languages and cultures with them to new places. The chapter explores how language is used to negotiate identity and belonging in these new communities, as well as how it can be used to maintain connections to home communities.

In the final chapter, the authors summarize the key findings of the volume and suggest future directions for research. They argue that the study of language, place, and belonging is a rich and complex field that requires interdisciplinary approaches. They suggest that future research should focus on the intersection of language, place, and identity, as well as on the role of language in the construction of social and cultural inequalities.

In conclusion, this volume provides a valuable contribution to the field of sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology. It highlights the significance of concepts like 'place' and 'belonging' in understanding the dynamics of identification through language, and it opens up new avenues for research on the margins. The contributors to this volume approach language practices by analyzing them as dialectically related to political-economic processes and language ideologies, and they provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between language, place, and belonging. By delving into the purportedly unspectacular, this volume seeks to achieve a full understanding of the relation between language, place, and belonging, and it contributes to our understanding of the complex and dynamic nature of human identity.

Weight: 155g
Dimension: 292 x 216 x 5 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789027200044