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Part of
The Politics of Multilingualism: Europeanisation, globalisation and linguistic governance
Edited by Peter A. Kraus and François Grin
[Studies in World Language Problems 6] 2018
► pp. 305–332

Chapter 13
Idealism or pragmatism?

Ad hoc multilingualism and Open English

| Sciences Po, Paris

This chapter aims at setting out a transitory fair language regime for migrants. I show that a lingua franca regime in “Open English” can co-exist with linguistic diversity and ad hoc multilingualism, and that this regime can be sustained transitionally by bilingual bridge-speakers. Democratic requirements of inclusion and parity of esteem can be achieved through a creative non-permanent linguistic arrangement via ad hoc multilingualism plus Open English, particularily relevant in intermediary institutions and situations where newcomers are not (yet) competent in the host-country’s language.

Keywords: multilingualism, Open English, lingua franca, transitory language regime
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • 1.Re-thinking diversity and nationalism
    • 1.1Two dominant paradigms: Identity and utility
    • 1.2Two traps: Methodological nationalism and diversity as juxtaposition
    • 1.3Beyond territorial protectionism and diversity accommodation, two paradoxes
  • 2.Open English and ad hoc multilingualism
    • 2.1 Lingua franca and participatory diversity
    • 2.2 Ad hoc transitional multilingualism
      • Intercultural communication (versus acquisition plus use)
      • No standard (rather than no norms: Norms are negotiated ad hoc) versus domination by natives
      • Consensus and creativity
      • Cultural autonomy and reciprocity versus acculturation or (summoned) integration
      • No territorriality (versus nationalism or hegemony)
      • Pragmatic versus identitarian
      • Communication versus translation
      • Conclusion: Equality and non-exclusion, identity and interest
    • 2.3 Ad hoc multilingualism plus bridge speakers
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgement
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 10 September 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.6.13von
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