Transacting and Negotiating Through Translanguaging in Bilingual Economic Contexts: Non-Observance of Linguistic Repertoire in Mtukudzi’s ‘Madam Let’s Talk’
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1410.01Keywords:
emerging language, multilingual context, named languages, Shona-English bilingual, translanguagingAbstract
Translanguaging has always existed as a communication-facilitating practice in bilingual and multilingual contexts where speakers have different first languages (L1) but are not proficient in each other’s language. The discussion focuses on a critical discourse analysis of the concept of translanguaging in practical language use, as reflected in Oliver Mtukudzi’s song ‘Madam Let’s Talk’. Translanguaging has become a popular topic in the study of language practices in multilingual educational contexts, but critical discourse analysis of translanguaging outside the classroom is rare. In Mtukudzi’s song, the message is encoded in English, yet the primary voice conveying the message predominantly uses the Shona language. The emerging language stemming from translanguaging is different from the ‘named languages’ involved in the message, which are Shona and English. A critical discourse analysis of Mtukudzi’s song reveals that, in bilingual contexts when negotiating business, the customer’s language takes precedence Even if the seller is not so proficient in the prospective buyer’s language, translanguaging is employed as a strategy for scaffolding communication. The translanguaging in Mtukudzi’s song reflects the power dynamics arising from the economic standing of participants in a conversation taking within a bilingual context. The contextual use of English and Shona in the song also demonstrates that the coexistence of languages does not imply status. The language spoken as L1 by those with higher social and economic standing will occupy a more prestigious position.
References
Adhikari, B. R., & Proudel, P. P. (2023). Countering English-prioritised Monolingual Ideologies in Content Assessment through Translanguaging Practices in Higher Education. Language and Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2023.2217804
Baker, C. (2011). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Multilingual Matters.
Blackledge, A., Creese, A., & Hu, R. (2017). Translanguaging, Volleyball and Social Life. University of Birmingham.
Caldas, B. (2019). To Switch or not to Switch: Bilingual Preservice Teachers and Translanguaging in Teaching and Learning. TESOL Journal, 10, 2-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.485
Canagarajah, S. (2011). Translanguaging in the Classroom: Emerging Issues for Research and Pedagogy. Applied Linguistics Review, 2, 1-28.
Carvajal-Redigor, M., & Mortenson, L. (2023). Translanguaging as a Tool for Social Justice. In A. Esmail, A. Pitre, A. Duhon-Ross, J. Blakely, & B. Hamann (Eds.), Social Justice Perspectives on English Language Learners. (pp. 135-144). The Rowan & Littlefield Publishing Group.
Celic, C., & Seltzer, K. (2011). Translanguaging: A CUNY-NYSIEB Guide for Educators. CUNY-NYSIEB.
Cenoz, J., & Gorter, D. (2011). Focus on Multilingualism: A Study of Trilingual Writing. The Modern Language Journal, 95, 356–369. https://doi:10.1111/j.15404781.2011.01206.x
Cenoz, J., & Gorter, D. (2020). Teaching English Through Pedagogical Translanguaging. World Englishes, 39, 301-311. https://doi:10.1111/weng.12462
Chouliaraki, L., & Fairclough, N. (2010). Critical Discourse Analysis in Organisational Studies: Towards an Integrationist methodology. Journal of Management Studies, 47(6), 1213-1217.
Cook, V. J. (1999). Going Beyond the Native speaker in Language Teaching. TESOL Quarterly, 33(2), 185–209. https://doi:10.2307/3587717
Creese, A., & Blackledge, A. (2010). Translanguaging in the Bilingual Classroom: A Pedagogy for Teaching and Learning? The Modern Language Journal, 94(1), 103-115.
Creese, A., Blackledge, A., & Hu, R. (2018). Translanguaging and Translation: The Construction of Social Difference Across City Spaces. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 21(7), 841-852. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2017.1323445
Fairclough, N. (2005). Critical Discourse Analysis in Trans-disciplinary Research. In R. Wodak, & P. A. Chilton (Eds.), New Agenda in (Critical) Discourse Analysis. (pp. 17-32). Benjamins Publications.
Fairclough, N., Mulderrig, J., & Wodak, R. (2011). Critical Discourse Analysis. In T. A. van Dijk (Ed.), Discourse Studies. (pp. 357-378). Sage.
Garcia, O. (2007). Foreword. In S. Makoni. & A. Pennycook (Eds.), Disinventing and Reconstituting Languages. (pp. xi-xv). Multilingual Matters.
García, O. (2009). Bilingual Education in the 21st Century: A Global Perspective. John Wiley & Sons.
Garcia, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education. Palgrave Macmillan.
Grosjean, F. (2010). Bilingual: Life and Reality. Havard University press.
Hungwe, V. (2019). Using a Translanguaging Approach in Teaching Paraphrasing to Enhance Reading Comprehension in First-year Students. Journal of the Reading Association of South Africa, 10(1), 1-9.
Lewis, G., Jones, B., & Baker, C. (2012). Translanguaging: Origins and Development from School to Street and Beyond. Educational Research and Evaluation, 18(7), 641–654. https://doi:10.1080/13803611.2012.718488
Liu, Y. (2020). Translanguaging and Trans-semiotizing as Planned Systematic scaffolding: Examining Feeling-meaning in CLIL Classrooms. English Teaching & Learning. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42321-020-00057-z
Makalela, L. (2015). Translanguaging as Vehicle for Epistemic Access: Cases for Reading Comprehension and Multilingual Interactions. Per Linguam: A Journal of Language Learning, 31(1), 15-29.
Makoe, P. (2018). Translanguaging in a Monoglot Context: Children Mobilising and (Re)positioning their Multilingual Repertoires as Resources for Learning. In G. Mazzaferro (Ed.), Translanguaging as Everyday Practice. (pp. 13-20). Springer.
Mazzaferro, G. (2018). Translanguaging as Everyday Practice. An Introduction. In G. Mazzaferro (Ed.), Translanguaging as Everyday Practice. (pp. 13-20). Springer.
Mbirimi-Hungwe, V. & Hungwe, T. (2018). Translanguaging for Epistemic Access to Computer Science Concepts: A call for Change. Per Linguam: A Journal for Language Learning, 34(2), 97-111.
Mullet, D. R. (2018). A General Critical Discourse Analysis Framework for Educational Research. Journal of Advanced Academics, 29(2), 116-142. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202X18758260
Ngcobo, S. (2018). Translanguaging in Summarizing Skills: The Need to Develop Bilateral Students. Journal for Language Teaching, 52(2), 26-48.
Nhongo, R., & Tshotsho, B. P. (2019). Translanguaging as an Instructional Method in Science and Mathematics Education in English Second Language Classroom Contexts. The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning, 14(2), 57-71.
Palmer, D. K., Mateus, S. G., Martinez, R. A., & Henderson, K. (2014). Reframing the Debate on Language Separation: Toward a Vision for Translanguaging Pedagogies in the Dual Language Classroom. The Modern Language Journal, 98(3), 757-772. https://DOI:10.1111/j.1540-4781.2014.1212.x
Poza, L. (2017). Translanguaging: Definitions, Implications, and Further Needs in Burgeoning Inquiry. Berkeley Review of Education, 6(2), 101-128.
Sayer, P. (2013). Translanguaging, TexMex, and Bilingual Pedagogy: Emergent Bilinguals Learning Through the Vernacular. TESOL Quarterly, 47(1), 63-88.
Sibanda, N. (2020). Language use in Postcolonial Zimbabwean Alternative Theatre Performance. South African journal of Communication Theory and Research, 46(1), 40-60.
Sun, Y., & Lan, G. (2020). Enactment of a Translingual Approach to Writing. TESOL Quarterly, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.609
Too, W. K. (2023). ‘People are Doing it’: Malaysian English Language Teachers’ Perceptions on Translanguaging. Asian Englishes. https://doi.org/10.1080/13488678.2023.2214769
Velasco, P. & García, O. (2014). Translanguaging and the Writing of Bilingual Learners. Bilingual Research Journal, 37(1), 6–23. https://doi:10.1080/15235882.2014.893270
Wei, L. (2011). Multilinguality, Multimodality, and Multicompetence: Code‐ and Modeswitching by Minority Ethnic Children in Complementary Schools. The Modern Language Journal, 95(3), 370–384. https://doi:101111/j.1540-4781.2011.01209.x
Wei, L. (2016). New Chinglish and the Post-multilingualism Challenge: Translanguaging ELF in China. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca, 5(1), 1-25.
Wei, L. (2018). Translanguaging as a Practical Theory of Language. Applied Linguistics, 39(1), 9-30. https://doi:10.1093/applin/amx039
Wildsmith-Cromarty, R. (2018). Building a Knowledge Base for Language Teaching Through Translanguaging. Journal for Language Teaching, 52(2), 100-120.
