Multilingual Phenomenon Research Articles

Code-switching – normal oversight on the part of bilingual speakers: A review of literature

This study was inspired by the observation that code-switching is often discouraged in foreign language schools, where the target language and native language are strictly separated, with the target language designated as the 'official' language of instruction. The study sought to examine instances of code-switching in English as a First Additional Language (EFAL) acquisition among Sesotho native speakers in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa. Furthermore, it sought to illustrate the application of tag-code-switching, inter-sentential code-switching, and intra-sentential code-switching in English First Additional Language (EFAL) education for Sesotho native speakers in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa. This paper studied a particular multilingual phenomena, code-switching. While other linguistic behaviours exist, code-switching is the most popular in additional language contexts in South Africa. This research was founded on a literature review of code-switching in additional language situations. The paper examined the three roles of code-switching: repetition, emotional, and floor-holding. It also provided instances of how tag-code-switching, inter-sentential code-switching, and intra-sentential code-switching might be utilised by Sesotho home language learners to improve their comprehension of EFAL. One finding of the study is that, similar to translanguaging, code-switching fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among learners, and it is generally more accessible for the EFAL student to acquire knowledge from familiar concepts to unfamiliar ones. Another conclusion is that learners' restricted engagement in academic activities, attributable to their inadequate language proficiency, also impacts their motivation. The study advocates for the implementation of code-switching to improve learners' classroom involvement by allowing them to utilise their native language in the acquisition of a second language. The impact of code-switching on Sesotho home language learners' comprehension of EFAL in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa remains undetermined, necessitating further investigation into this important issue.

Impact of Trilingual Efficiency on the Working Memory and Inhibitory Control in Undergraduates: A Case Study of Pakistan

In recent years, the phenomenon of multilingualism has spread throughout the world. Pakistan offers an intriguing picture of multilingualism, yet little research has been done in this domain. The previous body of research in the multilingualism and cognition domain had produced inconsistent findings. This study aimed to investigate the positive impact of multilingualism on executive functions of inhibitory control and working memory in undergraduate students. Twenty participants were hired from a call center organization. A language history questionnaire (LHQ3) was administered along with the Simon and Corsi experimental tasks to measure inhibition and working memory. A simple linear regression analysis was run to find the impact of multilingualism. The data findings showed no impact of multilingualism on inhibitory control and working memory. The results showed insufficient statistical evidence to prove the multilingual advantage. Moreover, the results also projected the involvement of multiple confounding variables that may be the principal reason for inconsistent findings in this field of research. Hence, the bilingual advantage hypothesis is rejected because the findings could not predict the generalizability of the positive effect of multilingualism on the executive functions in the larger population of undergraduates. The study suggests that a multiple hierarchical regression model may be more productive, including multiple confounding variables.

Language policy and linguistic landscapes in the internationalization of a non-Anglophone university

PurposeInternationalization strategies that have been issued for a decade affect non-Anglophone higher education institutions (HEIs) in the clash of importance in preserving national language or using international languages. One of the observable objects of this dilemma is the inconsistent language display of universities’ public signages as a linguistic landscape (LL). To address these issues, the presence of language policy is urgent unless the preservation of the national language is no longer the responsibility of HEIs. However, rigorous discussion about language policy in non-Anglophone HEIs remains limited. This study aims to address the gap by providing a critical analysis of the existing language policy documents in an Indonesian higher education institution that has a multilingual environment and its effect on the LL.Design/methodology/approachThis case study used document analysis and LL analysis. The setting was an Islamic university in Indonesia that represents the trial importance of building religious identity, preserving the national language and engaging with international demands. The data were collected from National Law Enforcement websites, which provided various national policy documents and the institutional documents that were retrieved from the university website by using the document analysis method by Bowen (2009). The secondary data were 216 visual images of public signage in an Islamic university in Indonesia as the representation of multilingual phenomena. The additional data were gathered from a pilot interview with a lecturer and a student.FindingsThis study found that both the national government and institutional administration in Indonesia do not have a language policy that regulates LLs or language preferences in public places for HEIs. The university tends to solely refer to international accreditation policy by using either bilingual English-Indonesian or monolingual English in the public signage. However, the limited use of the Arabic language in specific venues such as mosques and musallas shows that Arabic serves neither as symbolic identity nor communicative functions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study sets a single case study in an Islamic university, and the policy documents were limited to the Indonesian Government and institutions as the representation of non-Anglophone countries. Further studies are expected to have a bigger and larger size of data and settings.Practical implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves national language and facilitates major national and international language communities, such as Thai, Arabic, Javanese and Malay, without being absent in international competitive labeling. A practical implication for religion-based and cultural-based universities is that the function of their Holy Book or local languages can be used as communicative functions to strengthen the religious and local identity.Social implicationsThis study implies that non-Anglophone countries’ governments should start to design and enforce a language policy that preserves their national language without being absent in international competitive labeling.Originality/valueGiven the fact that there is limited awareness to bring the discussion about LL patterns into language policy issues in non-Anglophone countries, this study was originally conducted as a case study to pilot the discussion about the absence of language policy as represented through LLs in Indonesia. This case study was brought up as a pilot discussion to urge non-Anglophone countries lawmakers to issue language policy at the university level. This message is meant to respond to internationalization programs that can potentially jeopardize the existence of the linguistic and cultural diversity of non-Anglophone countries.

Intercultural Awareness Through Indonesian Gastronomy with European Flavours in The Midst of Plurilingualism Political Framework

In the midst of a multicultural society, cultivating intercultural awareness is a part of the political framework of plurilingualism, as European linguistic policy is based on a multilingual phenomenon. Plurilingualism is a renewal of the individual's ability to communicate on paralinguistic and paratextual aspects and develop intercultural skills, likely their cultural roots. This political hegemony unwittingly developed massively before the infiltration of French language in Indonesia through flavour contact in the form of gastro diplomacy. Starting with the European cookery heritage in Indonesia, this study aims to explore the presence of European flavours in culinary development to set up the attitudes of respect and understanding of the uniqueness of language culture based on French language learners. In addition to intercultural communication skills, this term contains nationalism as a political goal of plurilingualism, which ideally can eliminate cultural contestation. Therefore, the research methods are document studies, observations, and questionnaires, which aim to explore the existence of intercultural flavours as a form of cultural contact, authenticate cultural knowledge, build intercultural awareness, and diplomatic efforts from French language didactic. The result is a significant change, increasing interest in learning French, and also the development of national identity through knowledge, skills and behaviour as a part of intercultural awareness with authentic language materials.

ANALYSIS OF CODE-SWITCHING (ENGLISH-BALINESE) UTTERANCES IN THE TICKET TO PARADISE MOVIE

An American romantic comedy, Ticket to Paradise Movie, provides a unique context for investigating code-switching. It portrays a divorced couple collaborating to disrupt their daughter’s wedding in Bali. Beyond its entertaining storyline, the movie features a multilingual phenomenon, with characters utilizing the Balinese language for authenticity. This study aims to analyse the types and Reasons for Code-Switching. This study uses a qualitative approach. The primary data was collected from film transcripts and secondary data from literature reviews. The result of this study reveals the types and reasons for code-switching utterances in the Ticket to Paradise Movie. This study can contribute to broader language use comprehension in multilingual settings by exploring code-switching in this cinematic context.

Multilingualism and socioeconomic mobility: Analyzing the correlation in immigrant populations

This research investigates the relationship between multilingual abilities and socioeconomic mobility among immigrant populations. It evaluates how linguistic competencies influence employment opportunities, educational attainment, and social integration. The study aims to provide insights into how policymakers and educators can leverage multilingual education for economic and social inclusion. The phenomenon of multilingualism among immigrant populations has garnered significant scholarly attention due to its potential implications for socioeconomic mobility. This Review comprehensively analyzes the correlation between multilingualism and socioeconomic advancement among immigrant communities. Drawing upon various academic literature, this study aims to elucidate the nuanced relationship between language proficiency, cultural adaptation, and economic integration. The Review begins by contextualizing the importance of multilingualism in contemporary society, particularly in the context of globalization and increased migration flows. Multilingualism, defined as the ability to speak multiple languages proficiently, is posited as an asset for immigrants seeking to navigate new social and economic landscapes. Through a review of existing research, this Review examines how multilingualism influences socioeconomic mobility. Firstly, multilingual individuals often possess enhanced communication skills, enabling them to access a broader range of employment opportunities and interact effectively in diverse workplace environments. Furthermore, proficiency in multiple languages facilitates social integration and cultural adaptation, factors that are closely associated with socioeconomic success. Immigrants who can navigate linguistic and cultural barriers may experience greater social mobility and upward economic trajectories. Moreover, the Review explores the role of language in educational attainment and intergenerational mobility. Studies suggest that bilingualism and multilingualism can positively affect academic performance and cognitive development, potentially leading to improved educational outcomes for immigrant children. Additionally, language proficiency may facilitate intergenerational transmission of cultural capital and social networks, which are critical determinants of socioeconomic mobility. However, the relationship between multilingualism and socioeconomic mobility is complex and multifaceted. Factors such as language proficiency levels, language policy, and discrimination can significantly impact immigrant trajectories. Moreover, the intersectionality of language with other social identities, such as race, ethnicity, and class, necessitates a nuanced understanding of how language shapes opportunities and barriers for immigrant populations. In conclusion, this Review highlights the intricate interplay between multilingualism and socioeconomic mobility among immigrant communities. By examining the multifaceted dimensions of language proficiency, cultural adaptation, and economic integration, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors shaping immigrant experiences and pathways to success in diverse sociocultural contexts.

Community of Practice in the Mercers of the City of London

This article tests the applicability of the community-of-practice framework to the process of vernacularisation of the earliest extant account book written by the Mercers’ guild of London between 1347–1348 and 1463–1464. Its records have been informative of the satisfactory applicability of social constructs from the two early sociolinguistic waves, such as time and age and social networks, to related multilingual phenomena, such as codemixing and language maintenance and shift. My analysis shows that the replacement of Latin and French by English as the main language for the different sections of that earliest extant account book began, developed, and ended when the administration of the Mercers’ guild of London was being controlled and recorded –at least partially– by warden-bookkeepers connected through regular and strong contact with each other. Furthermore, their use of the English vernacular was influenced by the previous and simultaneous contact with other records in the same vernacular.

Connecting target content with students through translanguaging in a postgraduate EMI pharmacology module

ABSTRACT The use of English as medium of instruction (EMI) in non-Anglophone contexts can be seen as part of a process of ‘Englishisation’ which favours a monolingual policy of using only one language in the classroom. However, EMI can be seen as a multilingual phenomenon, where the declared policy of using one language (English) as the medium of instruction may not reflect actual classroom practices in which other languages are used. Such practices can be described as ‘translanguaging’, in which participants engage their full linguistic repertoires in making meaning, and which does not see languages as distinct, compartmentalized entities. In this sense, this study aims to investigate how a lecturer deploys bilingual practices in an EMI postgraduate pharmacology module at a Spanish university for content knowledge building and meaning making purposes. The study uses multimodal Conversation Analysis (CA) to examine the multilingual and multimodal resources enacted by the lecturer both at the ‘local’ level of interactional sequences, and at the level of ‘overall’ medium of practice. The findings suggest that translanguaging (not just English or Spanish) was used as a way of connecting target content knowledge with the students by referring to the students’ experience and the shared classroom community.

Intercultural and globalization factors in the development of multilingualism

The aim of the study was to determine multilingualism in Ukraine with the identification of intercultural and globalization factors. The study involved statistical methods and comparative analysis. It was established that the phenomenon of multilingualism is characteristic of the Ukrainian people. During the period of its establishment, Ukraine was constantly under the socio-cultural influence of neighbouring states, which showed elements of chauvinistic ascendancy. However, the typical combinations of languages that were characteristic of multilingual groups of the population of Ukraine are being transformed in accordance with the current requirements. In particular, an increased influence of the official languages of the international community is recorded. The phenomenon of multilingualism for the Ukrainian people is contradictory, as it is mostly artificial, caused by intercultural factors of foreign countries. However, technological development, globalization processes and Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations form the basis for a fundamental change in attitudes towards this phenomenon and the use of multilingualism as an advantage of Ukrainian society. Further research is aimed at obtaining the concept of systemic solutions for the positive use of the multilingualism of the Ukrainian people, in particular through the implementation of language combinations using languages recognized by the international society.

Warung Makan di Pantai Melasti, Bali dalam Kajian Lanskap Linguistik: Dari Tipat Cantok sampai Burger

The linguistic landscape has attracted the interest of many language researchers recently. One area of study that has not received much attention is the linguistic landscape of restaurants. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the linguistic landscape of food stalls in Melasti Beach, Bali. Data was obtained by taking photos using a cell phone camera against signboards, banners and menu lists displayed in front of the restaurant. A total of 43 photos were collected and there were 144 items analyzed. then categorized based on the language used. The results of the study found that the use of language in the linguistic landscape at Melasti Beach was dominated by the use of Indonesian and followed by English and other foreign languages. There is the phenomenon of bilingualism and multilingualism. This linguistic landscape is in line with tourists visiting Melasti Beach.

Expression and interpretation of emotions in multilingual psychotherapy: A literature review

AbstractThis review aimed at presenting the findings of 19 original studies that were published in the period from 2000 to 2022 in order to outline the current state of the art in the field of emotion communication (i.e., expressing and interpreting emotions) in multilingual psychotherapy. This analysis involves in particular the studies that investigate multilingual phenomena (e.g., code‐switching and language‐mixing) that occur during psychotherapeutic sessions when client and therapist can speak more than one language, as well as the articles that research emotion communication in this multilingual setting. With this in mind, the articles selected for this review are divided into two main categories: linguistic phenomena in multilingual psychotherapy and emotion communication in multilingual psychotherapy. Results of the studies in the current analysis reveal that code‐switching remains one of the main linguistic phenomena that arises in the area of multilingual psychotherapy. Switching languages in therapy tends to be considered as beneficial for both client and therapist. Besides, findings suggest a connection between speaking L1/LX and one's identity (e.g., feeling different depending on the language). Additionally, studies that investigate emotion communication in multilingual psychotherapy show that an individual's first language (L1) is predominantly viewed as more emotionally charged than their language(s) learned later in life (LX). However, some studies also demonstrate that the relationship between L1 and LX is more fluid and context‐dependent than it has traditionally been regarded. Propositions are given for future research in the field of emotion communication in multilingual psychotherapy.

The very concept of language contact in light of contemporary interest in translanguaging

This paper makes a case for viewing the concept of translanguaging as one that puts a heavy strain on a good deal of the time-honoured concepts of language contact, language code, code-switching, discrete languages as self-contained entities, hermetically sealed off from one another, and so forth — that is to say, the entire conceptual paraphernalia with the help of which we are used to working when dealing with the phenomenon of multilingualism. Far from being an exception to a rule, multilingualism is recognised as the norm in today’s world, the much-touted monolingualism having been exposed as the product of repressive policies enacted in the past in the name of geopolitical expediencies. Among these repressive policies is the formation of nation-states, historically brandished as the bulwark of a collective identity and also of differentiation vis-à-vis those with whom one no longer feels any common bond — an exception foisted upon the natural order of things. In other words, monolingualism is a point totally out of the curve, a fact that is historically attested, though overshadowed by its ‘contamination’ with factors that have to do with deep-seated geo-political interests.

Despre code-switching în literaturile scrise în limbi periferice. Multilingvism și strategii discursive în romanul românesc din secolul al XIX-lea

My study aims to address the phenomenon of literary multilingualism in the nineteenth-century Romanian novel. Based on Johan Heilbron’s approach on “translations as a cultural world-system” and his classification into hyper-central, central, semi-peripheral and peripheral languages, my analysis discusses the nineteenth-century Romanian language at an early stage of its consolidation and thus in self-colonial and anti-colonial relations to the “hegemony” of the French language. Taking advantage of this framework, I consider that the majority of literary code-switching examples faithfully render these linguistic relations, so my study proposes a classification of literary multilingualism into the following possible categories: a livresque multilingualism, which satisfies the self-colonial tendencies of the nineteenth-century language, a latent multilingualism, which can also be associated with an attempt at linguistic bovarisation, but also with the search for authenticity in novels through suggestion and “explicit attribution” (Meir Sternberg), a thesistic multilingualism, in such cases where the novel didactically presents foreign language insertions, and a functional multilingualism. Finally, my paper also launches a discussion of another type of multilingualism, that as a source for “defamiliarization”, which I expect to find in the Romanian novel of the twentieth century, when the Romanian language is no longer in danger of self-colonization and passes by the incipient stage, the phenomenon of code-switching serving Viktor Shklovsky’s technique of “defamiliarization”.

The phenomenon of multilingualism between ancient perspectives and contemporary developments

No abstract available.

Zweisprachigkeit in den Literaturen Estlands

Bilingualism in the Literatures of Estonia. In a multilingual cultural space such as the (former and contemporary) Baltic region, bilingualism, both oral and written, has been rather normality than exception. This also finds an expression in the literatures of this region. In the following I will examine the phenomenon of bilingualism and multilingualism in the literatures of Estonia in history and today. First, I will examine the historical forms of bilingualism before the foundation of the Republic of Estonia, against the background of the complicated oral and written language relations throughout history. Then I explore their topicality in the interwar and Soviet periods, and today. I also ask about the motivation of the authors to change or mix languages in their work, whether to reach a wider audience or a new poetic quality. Examples are from the work of Paul Fleming, Reiner Brockmann, Jacob Johann Malm, August Kitzberg, Ivar Ivask, Jaan Kaplinski, Igor Kotjuh, Øyvind Rangøy and Veronika Kivisilla.

Verflochtene Sprachen und Kulturen: Gohar Markosjan-Käspers Romane als Beispiele des mehrsprachigen Schreibens

Intertwined Languages and Cultures: Gohar Markosjan-Käsper’s Novels as Examples of Multilingual Writing. The present article analyses the phenomenon of multilingualism in the novels of Gohar Markosjan-Käsper (1949–2015) and discusses her life and work in the socio-political context of the former Soviet Union (in relation to language and cultural politics). Markosjan-Käsper was an Armenian-born writer who spent most of her life in Estonia and wrote her books in Russian. Accordingly, her works originated in a contact zone of different languages and cultures. This article highlights her novels Helena and Penelopa as examples of transcultural writing and analyses the manifestations and functions of multilingualism in these works. The study shows that a number of topics and motifs that are present in German-language transcultural literature also appear in Markosjan-Käsper’s novels (for example cultural comparison, self-discovery in a foreign culture). The multilingualism can be seen in these novels both explicitly and implicitly: in addition to Russian, other languages such as Armenian, Estonian, English, and Latin are used, with numerous indirect references to these languages. Furthermore, various references to world-famous novels such as Ulysses by James Joyce and Master and Margarita by Michail Bulgakov are analysed.

Are you Covidient or Covidiot?: A Linguistic Landscape Study on COVID-19 flyer in Pasuruan District

<em>Although previous studies on linguistics landscape are quite numerous in number, linguistics landscape issue in relation to the COVID-19 flyer is still untouched. The current study aims to shed a light on the phenomenon of multilingualism on the linguistics landscape in relation to the COVID-19 flyer in Pasuruan district. This study focuses on the usage of language on the COVID-19 flyer in Pasuruan, the impression of society regarding this linguistics signs, and the preference of linguistics signs used on the COVID-19 flyer. The research was done by capturing all linguistics signs related to COVID-19 in Pasuruan district to be analyzed in terms of its type. The researchers also distributed the online questionnaire via social media to get the society’s perception regarding the COVID-19 linguistics sign found in flyers and to get some information regarding the preferred language used on the flyers. It was revealed that monolingual, bilingual, and multilingual signs appear on COVID-19 flyers. In addition, the majority of society views positively the multilingualism phenomena on the COVID-19 flyer as it serves as intelligible, educational, and effective means of campaign to halt the spread of the virus. All in all, both Bahasa Indonesia–English are favorable languages to be used to deliver messages related to COVID-19 issue.</em>

Rethinking Historical Multilingualism and Language Contact ‘from Below’. Evidence from the Dutch-German Borderlands in the Long Nineteenth Century

ABSTRACT European language histories, including the history of Dutch, have often been portrayed as broadly linear developments towards one uniform standard language. In this biased account, rooted in the nation-building era around 1800, language diversity and multilingualism were largely rendered invisible. Against the background of clearly segregated spaces, politically and linguistically, border settings have particularly challenged the monolingual ideology of ‘one nation–one language’. Taking a historical-sociolinguistic perspective, this article focuses on the Dutch-German borderlands in the long nineteenth century as an intriguing case to investigate historical multilingualism and language contact ‘from below’. Despite the growing importance of nation-states and their standard languages, it is shown that multilingual practices and contact phenomena can still be traced in handwritten archival documents from the private sphere. Illustrative examples come from various family archives in the border area as well as from a unique collection of letters written by (Low) German labour migrants to their Dutch employer. These sources give evidence of the Dutch-German borderlands as a multi-faceted sociolinguistic space well into the nineteenth century. Moreover, they suggest that established theories of multilingualism and language contact may require rethinking in order to account for less clear-cut and more fluid practices in the past.

The perceptions of translanguaging through English as a lingua franca among international students in Korean higher education

Abstract This article explores how translanguaging is perceived by a group of international students at a Korean university where not only different first languages (L1) and English (L2) are involved in the students’ daily lives but also the local language (L3) holds an important role in the community. Using ethnographic methods, four participants from Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia and South Africa were regularly observed and interviewed in-depth during one academic semester. The findings reveal that the participants had conflicting views towards translanguaging pertaining to their underlying ideologies, that is, whether they considered it as a struggle to use a language or as something natural, fun and cosmopolitan. However, it has been confirmed from this study that whether the participants were positive or negative about translanguaging, it inevitably happened in their daily lives which tells us that the multilingual phenomenon in the field of ELF is worth researching further.

Multilingualism as a Tool of Marginalization or Empowerment in Pakistan: A Classroom Perspective

Pakistani educational system is dominated by multilingual phenomenon at all stages. The students with different levels of language proficiency enter university education where classrooms are dominated by multilingual phenomenon with the main adherence to English language. The major concerns of this study are: does multilingualism in Pakistani university classrooms transfer or inculcate any sense of marginalization or empowerment amongst the students at BS level; whether this sense of marginalization or empowerment can be related to their socioeconomic background and to their private and public schooling. The data were collected through a self-developed questionnaire from BS 3rd semester students enrolled in University of Sargodha. The questionnaire included close ended as well as open ended items which were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results revealed that students with low socio-economic background and public schooling were on the verge of marginalization and demotion which have developed a sense of low confidence in them. Students from private sector English medium schools were more confident, interactive, and participative in the classroom, hence empowered. The study concluded with some suggestion that universities may organize a zero semester for students to teach them a deficiency course of communication skills in English.
 Keywords: Multilingualism, Marginalization. Empowerment, University students