Translanguaging Theory: A New Perspective on Language

Abstract

In this article, we discuss translanguaging as a current sociolinguistics approach to language relating to the matters of multilingualism, language and culture interaction, and new language practices on the axis of globalization. With translanguaging, we theoretically problematize the sustainability of existing linguistic views and a stable national language regime, resorting to individuals' language repertoires in our conceptualization of language. Furthermore, we aim to provide examples of translanguaging practice in Turkey that reflect the realities of 21st century. The examples briefly address the socio-cultural functions of Turkish speakers' language practices in social media, highlighting the context of digital spaces. Thus, we engage in the questions of how translanguaging practices in Turkey are formulated, what socio-cultural functions these practices perform, and how the Turkish language and English as a lingua franca interact. The interaction of English as a lingua franca and Turkish as a national language is recontextualized to investigate a neglected and understudied subject in linguistics and other disciplines in Turkey.

Keywords

• Translanguaging
• Linguistic repertoire
• Digital space
• Sociolinguistics
• Turkish
• Lingua franca

DİLLER ÖTESİLİK KURAMI: DİLE YENİ BİR BAKIŞ

Abstract

Bu makalede çok dillilik, dil ve kültür etkileşimi, globalleşme ekseninde yeni dil pratikleri gibi konulara dair güncel toplum dilbilim yaklaşımı olan diller ötesilik (translanguaging) ele alınacaktır. Diller ötesilik kuramından hareketle mevcut dil görüşlerinin ve sabit bir ulusal dil rejiminin sürdürülebilirliğini teorik olarak sorunsallaştıracak ve dilin kavramsallaştırılması noktasında bireylerin dil repertuvarlarından yola çıkacağız. Bunun ötesinde diller ötesilik ve Türkiye’de var olan dil pratiklerine ilişkin 21. yüzyıl gerçekliklerini yansıtan örnekler içeren bir kavramsal tartışma sunmayı hedeflemekteyiz. Bu örneklerde dijital mekanlara odaklanarak Türkçe konuşucularının dijital mekanlardaki dil pratiklerinin sosyo-kültürel işlevlerine kısaca değineceğiz. Böylece Türkiye’de diller ötesilik pratiklerinin hangi biçimlerde formüle edildiğine, diller ötesilik fenomeninin hangi sosyo-kültürel işlevleri gerçekleştirdiğine, özellikle Türkçe ile lingua franca İngilizce’nin nasıl etkileşim kurduğuna dikkat çekmiş olacağız. Lingua franca İngilizce ile ulus dili Türkçe’nin etkileşimi çerçevesinde diller ötesilik fenomenini tartışmanın Türkiye’de dilbilim alanında ve diğer disiplinlerde bugüne dek ihmal edilmiş ve yeterince araştırılmamış bir konuya katkıda bulunacağı kanısındayız.

Keywords

• Diller ötesilik
• Dil repertuvarları
• Dijital mekan
• Toplum dilbilim
• Türkçe
• Lingua franca

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