Decolonising Multilingualism - (Writing Without Borders) by Alison Phipps (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

In this groundbreaking text, Alison Phipps pulls together ethical approaches to researching multilingually in contexts of pain, conflict and crisis; the position of the researcher; and the question of multilingualism and anglonormativity. It is both global and local in scale, ranging from Scotland to Ghana, Aotearoa / New Zealand to Sudan.

Review Quotes

Decolonising Multilingualism is a potent, passionate, and important warning, an act of witnessing, and a voice of true reason amid the globalized race for profit in linguistic and symbolic commodities.

A powerful call to decolonise knowledge and resist structures of violence through critical, poetic activism, by unlearning, dialoguing, and embodying the pain and potentialities of de-creation across and between languages, times and spaces.

Decolonising Multilingualism is a beautifully written, deeply personal and intimate account of what it means to decentre and give up power. None of us can step outside our histories, our skin colour, the structural inequalities that position us in ways that are both privileged and uncomfortable. But by engaging with, and reflecting upon, how these contexts and power relations influence our work with others, this little book is both liberating and challenges us to do better.

Freire says the role of the colonised is to decolonise the coloniser - Alison Phipps shares her personal journey of such experiences that not only decolonise her but also reveal the hurts and pains of the colonised communities and the gentle wisdom of the lands that offer unconditional healing. These could be stories about courage and vulnerability, but for me I see them as doing what needs to be done: to whakatika (rectify wrongs), with aroha (unconditional love), and discover truth is held in what truly matters - whakapono (faith).

I've been asked to review the best book I've read in recent years on language. Hands down, it's this book. This is a book by an academic, but it made me cry. This is not a Christian book, but it moved my spirit. It's not a big book, but it is large, if you get the difference.

Phipps provides readers with much inspiration on how to do research and teach
multilingually in a more reflexive way. As Phipps applies many of the working practices set out in the opening Manifesto that guides her work, the book provides an excellent example of what decolonising multilingual approaches can constitute in practice. As an early career researcher, I also consider Phipps' book as symbolically important. Many of us may be struggling with questions relating to working in a 'decolonised' way, but may not have the freedom or academic authority to confidently attempt new ways of researching and teaching multilingually. Phipps' book is a first important step towards reshaping some of our working practices. Having an established academic take the lead can encourage and help emerging scholars find their own answers to some of these difficult issues.

This collection of chapters and musings represents excellent material to prompt discussions with colleagues (both linguists and non-linguists) and with students, in order to keep questioning Whiteness in research, how to unlearn the ways of the academy, how to decreate when we work in classrooms and share knowledge in writing, and how to bridge our learning and teaching selves.

This is a very timely contribution by Alison Phipps. We live in unprecedented times of divisions. Walls and barriers are raised to keep people and nations apart. People who have so much in common including shared languages. In this book, Alison reminds us of the connecting power of languages and multilingualism. She talks about the languages and traditions left behind by those forced to flee their homes and the rich heritage of languages they can bring to their adopted homes.

With 'Decolonising Multilingualism: Struggles to Decreate' Alison Phipps has written a very personal, insightful and passionate account of her efforts to understand the situation of multilingual refugees and migrants and given voice to them.

About the Author

Alison Phipps is UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts, and Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies at the University of Glasgow, UK. She writes and publishes widely in both academic publications and the media, and is a respected activist and campaigner for humane treatment for those seeking refuge.