This book explores the transnational practices of migrant groups in global London, illustrating the complex relations between migrants and the city in the context of globalisation. The chapters offer a starting point to examine migrants and the city from a comparative perspective by bringing together case studies of diverse migrant communities. They use 'languaging' as the central concept in the development of an interdisciplinary framework that creates an opportunity to 'talk across disciplines' to engage with key issues crisscrossing migration, cities and language. The book promotes 'language-based' or 'language-sensitive' research, drawing on the plurilingual repertoires and the language and translanguaging practices of migrant communities as the tool for data collection and ethnographic fieldwork. This approach generates fresh insights into the complex issues of diasporic identities, belonging and place-making, which have broad implications for migration studies in post-Brexit Britain and beyond.

Breaks new ground with an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to migration studies

About the Author

Cangbai Wang is Reader in Chinese Studies at the University of Westminster, London, UK. He is the author of Museum Representations of Chinese Diasporas: Migration Histories and the Cultural Heritage of the Homeland (2021, Routledge).

Terry Lamb is Professor of Languages and Interdisciplinary Pedagogy at the University of Westminster, London, UK. His most recent book is Insights into Language Education Policies (ed. 2020, Peter Lang, with M. Jimenez Raya and B. Manzano Vazquez).

Reviews
This superb book showcases how it is the creative agency of migrants from around the world that makes the vibrant, dynamic and hugely energetic - call it 'trans-ethnic' - urban landscape that is the city of London. As such, the book provides a superb antidote to today's climate of heightened anti-migrant sentiment and exclusionary cultural nationalism. A must-read for all cosmopolitans! * Ien Ang, Western Sydney University, Australia *
One of the factors shaping one's social and ethnic identity is language. This is particularly true among migrants. In comparison to other research on the socio-economic-political development of migrants, to date there has been little research on the formation and/or transformation of identities from the perspective of language. This book examines the negotiation of identities among migrants with a focus on language to fill this research gap. It is an indispensable reference not only for migrants, but also for researchers, educators and policymakers. * Victor Zheng, The Chinese University of Hong Kong *



Book Information
ISBN 9781788927758
Author Cangbai Wang
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Multilingual Matters
Publisher Multilingual Matters
Weight(grams) 380g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 148mm * 17mm