VLACH LECTURES 1 – Yaron Matras – What is Multilingualism?

VLACH LECTURES : HERITAGE AND RESILIENCE (1)

"What is multilingualism? Towards a critical reflection on research and
society"

Lecture organised by Vanishing Languages and Cultural Heritage (VLACH) Commission at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Friday, May 26, 2023

Introduction: Thede Kahl, founder and chairman of the Commission Vanishing Languages and Cultural Heritage

Speaker: Yaron Matras
Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics, Birmingham
Department of Hebrew Language, University of Haifa


00:00 - Introduction by Prof. Thede Kahl
0:05:00 - Presentation by Prof. Yaron Matras

Abstract: New and complex connections between people and places, flexible mobility and
communication modes have created what social scientists have termed diverse ‘ethnoscapes’, transnationalism and local ‘super-diversity’. It is a new approach to identity and belonging that is tailored to a globalised world. When it comes to language, this requires us to rethink some of the notions that have been taken for granted both in academic discussions and in our understanding of social realities identity and belonging: Concepts like ‘mother tongue’ or ‘native language’ suggest unambiguous ownership of language. But the reality is one in which various actors shape and contribute to language practices beyond fixed attributes like parentage or place of birth.

Language itself is viewed traditionally in linguistic research and in society as an entity with clear boundaries that is linked to a fixed community of individuals; critical theory are now shifting to focus on dynamic and fluid repertoires of features that users embrace through networks of practice that are ever evolving. In his talk, Yaron Matras will revisit multilingualism through the lens of practice, addressing questions like: Can we count languages? Can we rely on native speaker judgement in research and judicial procedures? Can structures really be ‘borrowed’ from one language to another? What is the place of ideologies on the continuum of language practice? He draws on a variety of observations, including his work of many years on the Romani language and its dialects.

You can access our VLACH Lecture Series collection on our website: https://www.oeaw.ac.at/vlach/events/a...

About VLACH
The Commission Vanishing Languages and Cultural Heritage (VLACH) aims to contribute to the academic knowledge of the world’s linguistic diversity by investigating nondocumented and lesser-documented languages and varieties. VLACH is committed to develop strategies of language maintenance and to nurture cultural heritage in close collaboration with the diverse communities involved in the VLACH projects.

To know more about VLACH visit:
https://www.oeaw.ac.at/vlach/