Encounters with Xenophobia: Language Learning Experiences of Cameroonian and Nigerian Migrants in South Africa

IF 0.5 3区文学 0 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS

Language Matters Pub Date : 2022-01-02 DOI:10.1080/10228195.2022.2052158

R. Mesthrie, Doreen Nchang, C. Onwukwe

引用次数: 1

Abstract

Abstract This article focuses on the fraught relation between xenophobia and language use and learning in the South African sociolinguistic context. It begins with the issue of labelling and the linguistic drawing of boundaries that speak to the phenomena of “othering” and xenophobia. It then proceeds to aspects of diasporic communication and identity negotiation as revealed in language learning, language crossing, and translanguaging in this fraught context. The article draws on two ongoing case studies of selected language practices and choices of Cameroonian migrants and Nigerian returnees. The research on Cameroonians was conducted in Cape Town while the Nigerian work involved preliminary interviews with, and observations of, Igbo returnees from South Africa in Igboland. The nature of xenophobic manifestations in South Africa may appear to be aimed at silencing the “other.” Yet some syntheses are possible, as evident in some acts of language learning and translanguaging that are presented in the article, especially among the Igbo returnees to Nigeria.

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遭遇仇外:喀麦隆和尼日利亚移民在南非的语言学习经历

摘要本文关注的是南非社会语言学语境中仇外心理与语言使用和学习之间令人担忧的关系。首先是标签问题，以及对“他者”和仇外心理现象的语言界定问题。然后，它继续在语言学习、语言跨越和在这种令人担忧的背景下的跨语言中揭示的侨民交流和身份协商方面。这篇文章借鉴了两个正在进行的关于喀麦隆移民和尼日利亚回返者的选定语言实践和选择的案例研究。对喀麦隆人的研究是在开普敦进行的，而尼日利亚的工作涉及在伊格兰对从南非返回的伊博人进行初步访谈和观察。南非仇外表现的性质似乎旨在使“他者”噤声。然而，一些综合是可能的，正如文章中介绍的一些语言学习和译语行为所显示的那样，特别是在返回尼日利亚的伊博人中。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Language Matters Multiple-

CiteScore

1.20

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The purpose of Language Matters is to provide a journal of international standing with a unique African flavour focusing on multilingualism in Africa. Although the journal contributes to the language debate on all African languages, sub-Saharan Africa and issues related to multilingualism in the southern African context are the journal’s specific domains. The journal seeks to promote the dissemination of ideas, points of view, teaching strategies and research on different aspects of African languages, providing a forum for discussion on the whole spectrum of language usage and debate in Africa. The journal endorses a multidisciplinary approach to the study of language and welcomes contributions not only from sociolinguists, psycholinguists and the like, but also from educationalists, language practitioners, computer analysts, engineers or scholars with a genuine interest in and contribution to the study of language. All contributions are critically reviewed by at least two referees. Although the general focus remains on multilingualism and related issues, one of the three issues of Language Matters published each year is a special thematic edition on Language Politics in Africa. These special issues embrace a wide spectrum of language matters of current relevance in Southern Africa.