Names and the transidioma

Abstract

The experience of linguistic globalization, and the communicative disorder it entails, requires a serious retooling of most basic units of semiotic analysis. The complexity and indeterminacy of late-modern communication affects most sociolinguistic assumptions behind social interactions. In particular, we can no longer assume a model of dialogue based on shared indexical knowledge. By introducing the concept of transidioma – i.e. the ensemble of communicative practices of people embedded in translingual environments and engaged in interactions that blend face-to-face and digitally-mediated communication – this paper documents the renewed reliance on denotational references, especially proper names, as a primary strategy to handle dialogue during asylum hearings.