Unruly Speech: Displacement and the Politics of Transgression

Unruly Speech examines how Uyghurs in China and the diaspora use unruly communication practices to transgress sociopolitical limits and seek change. It explores the discursive and material force of place names, social media, surveillance, and the link between witnessing and human rights discourse. The book provides a granular view of disruptive communication and its global political moorings and socio-technical control.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 17 January 2023
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Unruly Speech delves into the captivating world of Uyghurs in China and their global diaspora, where they push the boundaries of sociopolitical norms through their unconventional communication practices. Conducting extensive research in China, the United States, and Germany, Saskia Witteborn contextualizes her study within the backdrop of displacement, highlighting how naming practices and witness accounts emerge as powerful tools of resistance in everyday encounters and global activism. Through the voices of Uyghurs from three continents, Unruly Speech examines the discursive and material impact of place names, social media, surveillance, and the interconnectedness between witnessing and the discourse on human rights. This groundbreaking book offers a granular perspective on disruptive communication, exploring its global political roots and socio-technical control. With its rich ethnographic approach, Unruly Speech captivates audiences interested in migration and displacement, language and social interaction, advocacy, digital surveillance, and the multifaceted landscape of transnational China.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503634305