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Promoting and Problematizing Multi/Plural Approaches in Language Pedagogy

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Plurilingual Pedagogies

Part of the book series: Educational Linguistics ((EDUL,volume 42))

Abstract

Today’s increased scholarly attention to linguistic multiplicity, plurality, and hybridity for educating learners of English as an additional language is represented by notions of translanguaging and plurilingualism. However, without critical awareness of power and neoliberal complicity of diversity, this liberal orientation may not solve aggravating real-world problems that undermine human and linguistic diversity. This chapter critically examines both possibilities and potential problems of translanguaging and plurilingualism with a focus on writing in an additional language. Through critically examining (1) discrepancies between the multi/plural ideal and real-world challenges, (2) paradoxes of reality and ideology contained in multi/plural linguistic practices and linguistic normativity, and (3) ideological synergy with liberal multiculturalism and neoliberal multiculturalism, I will advocate critical engagement in multi/plural approaches with a vision of transforming not only the conceptualization of language but also structural barriers and language ideologies in relation to race, class, nationality, and other social identities.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    More media examples of linguistic discrimination can be found in Steven Talmy’s blog: http://blogs.ubc.ca/conditionalrelevance/?page_id=148

  2. 2.

    I adopted the idea from my colleague, Steven Talmy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Ryuko Kubota

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  1. Ryuko Kubota
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Correspondence to Ryuko Kubota .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Sunny Man Chu Lau

  2. Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Saskia Van Viegen

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Kubota, R. (2020). Promoting and Problematizing Multi/Plural Approaches in Language Pedagogy. In: Lau, S.M.C., Van Viegen, S. (eds) Plurilingual Pedagogies. Educational Linguistics, vol 42. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36983-5_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36983-5_14

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