What Does It Mean to Govern a Multilingual Society Well?
Feb 22, 2024
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This podcast explores the importance of good governance in linguistically diverse cities, challenging the perception of linguistic diversity as a problem. The conversation addresses the significance of governance in multilingual urban environments, investigates communication failures during the Covid-19 pandemic, and emphasizes the role of multilingual communication in addressing disparities. It also delves into the challenges and opportunities of multilingual communication practices within government websites, and discusses the significance of genuine inclusion and indigenous language renewal in building an imagined community.
Linguistic diversity should be viewed positively, not as a problem, in governance of multilingual cities.
Effective multilingual communication is crucial for public health outcomes and social inclusion, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deep dives
Importance of Urban Multilingualism
Dr. Alexandra Gray emphasizes the importance of studying urban multilingualism in Australia due to the diverse linguistic landscape in the country. She highlights how Australia has a long history of being a multilingual society with speakers of various languages, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, migrant languages, and different varieties of English. Dr. Gray's background in law and linguistics drives her interest in how governments respond to linguistic diversity and the need for effective governance strategies.
Comparison of Multilingual Policies
Dr. Gray compares the structural differences in multilingual policies between China and Australia. In China, there are officially recognized minority languages, a constitutional right to use and develop minority languages, and legal autonomous regions. In contrast, Australia lacks explicit language provisions in its constitution and operates within a federal structure without distinct autonomous regions. These differences highlight varying approaches to supporting linguistic diversity and minority language rights.
Challenges in Multilingual Communication During COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gray examines the challenges faced in multilingual communication by Australian governments. She identifies disparities in the use of languages on government websites and the voluminous yet uneven distribution of information in multiple languages. The pandemic highlighted the need for strategic planning, community involvement, and inclusive communication practices to ensure equitable access to information, particularly in crisis situations. Dr. Gray underscores the importance of effective multilingual communication for public health outcomes and social inclusion.
Linguistic diversity is often seen through a deficit lens. Another way of saying this is that it's perceived as a problem, particularly by institutions and governments. However, it doesn’t have to be that way and shouldn’t be that way in a participatory democracy.
This conversation addresses 3 questions:
Why does governance in a multilingual urban environment such as Sydney matter?
How do you investigate good governance in multilingual urban environments?
How did public health communication during the Covid-19 pandemic fail some linguistic communities and how can it be improved?
“Chats in Linguistic Diversity” is a podcast about linguistic diversity in social life brought to you by the Language on the Move team. We explore multilingualism, language learning, and intercultural communication in the contexts of globalization and migration.