Discourse and Power in a Multilingual World: (15 Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture)

In Discourse and Power in a Multilingual World the discourse of politicians and policy-makers in Britain links languages other than English, and therefore speakers of these languages, with civil disorder and threats to democracy, citizenship and nationhood. These powerful arguments travel along ‘chains of discourse’ until they gain the legitimacy of the state, and are inscribed in law. The particular focus of this volume is on discourse linking ‘race riots’ in England in 2001 with the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, which extended legislation to test the English language proficiency of British citizenship applicants. Adrian Blackledge develops a theoretical and methodological framework which draws on critical discourse analysis to reveal the linguistic character of social and cultural processes and structures; on Bakhtin’s notion of the dialogic nature of discourse to demonstrate how voices progressively gain authority; and on Bourdieu’s model of symbolic domination to illuminate the way in which linguistic-minority speakers may be complicit in the misrecognition, or valorisation, of the dominant language.

Table of Contents:
1. Preface; 2. Acknowledgements; 3. 1. Language, ideology and power; 4. 2. Language ideologies in multilingual contexts; 5. 3. Discourse and discrimination in the social arena; 6. 4. Political discourse and the rhetoric of discrimination; 7. 5. Political discourse and the media; 8. 6. Representing the voice of the people; 9. 7. The legitimation of discriminatory discourse; 10. 8. Discourse, power and the multilingual world; 11. Notes; 12. References; 13. Index

Review :
In this day and age where xenophobia is spreading like wildfire and national and global policies originate from fear and threats of ‘the other’, this book offers a unique and comprehensive analysis of the process through which the discourse and language of politicians, the media and others in authority serve as such powerful tools contributing and perpetuating such ideologies of discrimination. This book should be on the required reading list not only for students of applied linguistics and discourse, but also for those in political science, sociology and public policy whose research engages with the role of language within policy making. Discourse and Power in a Multilingual World, constitutes a fine example of an effort to theorise the nexus between texts, discourses and ideology, and, at the same time, to provide detailed empirical analysis of the subtle ways in which discrimination is produced in an democratic society in the twenty-first century. Therefore, I warmly recommend the book to all those who are interested in sociolinguistic research, which raises the awareness of moral and political issues in language/culture relations. The book comes through in a direct style that positively lightens the load of the discriminatory discourses and legislation that it exposes. [...] For anyone interested in multilingualism and power, language and symbolic advantage, and migration linguistics, this book is a natural companion. It could be used as a forerunner for the investigation of nation states that were created on multilingual foundations, i.e. those that are not multilingual through immigration. Countries that immediately come to mind are ex-colonies of European colonialism in Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia. I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in the intricate links between language, power, ideology and multilingualism. The book provides a relatively uninitiated researcher with an excellent methodology and almost step by step guidelines on how to reveal illiberal and discriminatory arguments in a seemingly liberal discourse. Anyone interested in finding out whether contemporary England is truly a multilingual society, in which the language rights of speakers of the minority languages are appreciated, should reach for this book. [...] I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in the intricate links between language, power, ideology and multilingualism. As already indicated, the book provides a relatively uninitiated researcher with an excellent, methodology and almost step by step guidelines on how to reveal illiberal and discriminatory arguments in a seemingly liberal discourse. Adrian Blackledge has made a major contribution to our understanding of the nexus between language and power in social and political life, and all who are interested in this linkage will benefit from a close reading of this book. [...] Employing a well documented and clearly written analytical framework grounded in Critical Discourse Analysis and the study of language ideologies, Blackledge convincingly traces the evolution of public discourse by "liberal" public officials and "balanced" journalists toward illiberal understandings of the appropriate social and political standing or "place" of ethno-linguistic communities speaking languages other than English. This is an excellent book. [...] It represents an excellent example of critical discourse analysis that links social theory with detailed text analysis to help us better understand and potentially intervene in reality. This is a great model to follow considering the current state of affairs in a diverse and globalized world where assimilationist and homogeneous ideologies prevail. I highly recommend this book to those interested in issues of language and power in multilingual society, critical discourse analysis, immigration, bilingualism, and communication studies. This important and timely book strengthens our understanding of the macro-linguistic contexts in which multilingualism is embedded. It is an incisive analysis of 'new racism' and discrimination masquerading as liberalism, and a passionate plea for new images of and new engagement with 'Muslim' residents in a 'Western' nation. [...] this is a very important and timely book which addresses pressing social issues of contemporary Britain. It deserves to be read by educators, journalists, and politicians as well. 'Discourse and Power in a Multilingual World' is a timely contribution to our understanding of how deeply-rooted ideologies of language, nation and State give rise to current racialized discourses of inclusion and exclusion under contemporary conditions of globalized transnational movements. By situating discourses emanating from actors of the British State and its agencies in the context of the dilemmas confronted by liberalism in the early 21st century, Blackledge succeeds in demonstrating just how strong a hold nationalism still has, and how State discourses frame understandings of diversity and position immigrants as excluded Others, within legitimizing discourses of equality and democracy.