This book offers a fresh perspective on the social life of multilingualism through the lens of the important notion of linguistic citizenship. All of the chapters are underpinned by a theoretical and methodological engagement with linguistic citizenship as a useful heuristic through which to understand sociolinguistic processes in late modernity, focusing in particular on linguistic agency and voices on the margins of our societies. The authors take stock of conservative, liberal, progressive and radical social transformations in democracies in the north and south, and consider the implications for multilingualism as a resource, as a way of life and as a feature of identity politics. Each chapter builds on earlier research on linguistic citizenship by illuminating how multilingualism (in both theory and practice) should be, or could be, thought of as inclusive when we recognize what multilingual speakers do with language for voice and agency.

About the Author

Quentin Williams is Director of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research (CMDR) and Associate Professor of Sociolinguistics in the Linguistics Department at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. His most recent book is Neva Again: Hip Hop Art, Activism and Education in Post-Apartheid South Africa (HSRC Press, 2019, with Adam Haupt, H. Samy Alim and Emile Jansen).

Ana Deumert is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is currently co-editor of Cambridge Approaches to Language Contact (with Salikoko Mufwene) and co-editor of Edinburgh Sociolinguistics (with Paul Kerswill). She is a recipient of the Neville Alexander Award for Multilingualism and the Humboldt Research Award.

Tommaso M. Milani is Professor of Multilingualism at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and Visiting Professor of Linguistics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He is co-editor of the journal Language in Society and he edits the Bloomsbury book series Advances in Sociolinguistics.

Reviews
In a world divided by nations, institutional racism and sexism, and other forms of colonial injustice, Stroud's concept of Linguistic Citizenship allows us to rethink what it means to belong to and through language, to have agency and voice. This pathbreaking book is a must-read for anyone interested in linguistic justice, multilingualism and language and nationalism. * Jaspal Naveel Singh, The Open University, UK *

The fascinating contributions in this collection align with a critical ongoing shift that challenges mythical framings of mainstream hegemonies related to 'language', including (re)locating the significance of 'language' in 'being and becoming'. Importantly, the contributions shift the focus from language to languaging. (Re)imagining centers and peripheries, they illustrate 'dignity in diversity', offering a much-needed opening for doing language 'otherwise'.

* Sangeeta Bagga-Gupta, Joenkoeping University, Sweden *
An engaged and critical collection by eminent and rising scholars from the Global South and North, this book presents diverse theoretical and applied perspectives on the notion of Linguistic Citizenship. It reminds us of the continuing political relevance of language and of our shared hope and responsibility to contribute to democracy, justice and peace in a world of struggle. * Britta Schneider, European University Viadrina, Germany *

I appreciated this edited collection very much and will be recommending it to applied linguists, sociolin-guists and all researchers whose work may draw them into struggles with multilingualism. Researchers who want to push the boundaries of knowledge about language in previously under-researched contexts, and design and conduct their research in ways which challenge academic norms, will do well to start here.

* Jane Andrews, University of the West of England, UK, BAAL News 122 *



Book Information
ISBN 9781800415300
Author Quentin Williams
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Multilingual Matters
Publisher Multilingual Matters
Weight(grams) 380g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 14mm