Life in a New Language is a comprehensive study exploring the experiences of 130 migrants from diverse backgrounds who settled in Australia over two decades. The book uses data from six separate sociolinguistic ethnographies to illuminate the challenges and triumphs of language learning, cultural adaptation, and identity formation in a new country. It delves into the complexities of navigating a new language, finding work, and building family relationships while facing racism and identity-making in a new context. The research highlights both the significant hardships faced by migrants and their remarkable courage and resilience. The book offers valuable insights for language service provision, migration policy, and social justice movements.
This episode of the Language on the Move Podcast is part of the Life in a New Language series. Life in a New Language is a new book just out from Oxford University Press (2024). Life in a New Language examines the language learning and settlement experiences of 130 migrants to Australia from 34 different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America over a period of 20 years. It’s co-authored by Ingrid Piller, Donna Butorac, Emily Farrell, Loy Lising, Shiva Motaghi Tabari, and Vera Williams Tetteh.
In this series, Brynn Quick chats with each of the co-authors about their personal insights and research contributions to the book.
Today, Brynn chats with Dr. Donna Butorac, one of the book’s six co-authors, with a focus on how identities change in migration.
For additional resources, show notes, and transcripts, go here.
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Language on the Move