Online lecture: WebEx link
At first glance sociolinguistics might seem an unlikely candidate for decolonization. Yet, as Monica Heller and Bonnie McElhinney (2017) have shown in Language, Capitalism, Colonialism, the genealogy of sociolinguistics is entangled with coloniality and neocolonialism. I will expand on their argument and show how, for example, Franz Boas’ work cannot be understood outside of the ‘mind blindness’ and ‘other blindness’ (Long 2021) that defines coloniality and imperialism. I will argue that decolonization is not just an act of uncovering, deconstructing and unlearning, it is also an act of building new worlds. It is equally about ‘dismantling the master’s house’ (Audre Lorde) as it is about building new intellectual homes (Sara Ahmed). In my talk I will sketch a possible vision for a ‘decolonized sociolinguistics’ that recognizes (i) the persistence of coloniality as an oppressive force, (ii) recognizes the importance of ante- and anti-colonial practices and ontologies of language, and (iii) reflects on ethics and politics as core dimensions of future sociolinguistic work.
Ana Deumert is Professor at the University of Cape Town. Her research program is located within the broad field of sociolinguistics and has a strong transdisciplinary focus. Her current work explores the use of language in global political movements as well as the contributions decolonial thought can make to sociolinguistic theory.
CONTACT
cyril.wealer@uni.lu