by J. Stephen Quakenbush (Editor), Gary F. Simons (Editor)
Multilingualisms vary. Given such variation, how can those from essentially monochromatic,
monolingual backgrounds begin to appreciate the colorful multilingual
realities of the majority world? This question led to the symposium Language and
Identity in a Multilingual, Migrating World, May 10-15, 2018, in Penang, Malaysia.
This resulting four-part collection of papers:
- focuses on diff erent models for understanding the dynamics of multiples-multiple
languages, multiple identities, and the relationship between the two
- looks at varying social and geographic contexts of multilingualism, including urban,
diaspora, refugee, and cross-border settings
- examines the history and adequacy of the term "heart language" as it has come to be
used especially by organizations and practitioners of Bible translation in the West
- describes a range of multilingual situations in South Asia, Central Asia, Europe,
Madagascar, and Africa
The concluding chapter seeks to build on the contributions of the overall symposium by
suggesting a research agenda for furthering our understanding of language and identity in
our multilingual, migrating world.