36.364, Reviews: Negotiating Identities, Language and Migration in Global London: Smari (2025)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-36-364. Tue Jan 28 2025. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 36.364, Reviews: Negotiating Identities, Language and Migration in Global London:  Smari (2025)

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Date: 27-Jan-2025
From: IBTISSEM SMARI [Smariibtissem.si at gmail.com]
Subject: Applied Linguistics: Smari (2025)


Book announced at https://linguistlist.org/issues/35-772

Title: Negotiating Identities, Language and Migration in Global London
Subtitle: Bridging Borders, Creating Spaces
Series Title: Encounters
Publication Year: 2024

Publisher: Multilingual Matters
           http://www.multilingual-matters.com/
Book URL:
https://www.multilingual-matters.com/page/detail/?K=9781788927758

Editor(s): Cangbai  Wang, Terry Lamb

Reviewer: IBTISSEM SMARI

SUMMARY
The book "Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration in Global
London," edited by Cangbai Wang and Terry Lamb, offers a comprehensive
exploration of the complex interplay between language, identity, and
migration in London's diverse urban landscape. The book is divided
into three main sections: Metrolingual Space, Performative Space, and
Heritagisation Space, each exploring distinct aspects of how migrants
navigate their identities in London's diverse urban landscape.
The book's interdisciplinary approach, drawing from sociolinguistics,
anthropology, and migration studies, provides a nuanced understanding
of migrant experiences. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of identity
formation, showcasing how migrants actively shape and are shaped by
their urban surroundings. The volume explores various spaces of
everyday life, including workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and
cultural organizations, demonstrating how interactions in these
diverse settings influence migrants' lived realities and identity
negotiations.
By adopting a multiscalar perspective and examining symbolic,
collective, and intimate spaces, the book offers valuable insights
into the complex processes of cultural adaptation, language use, and
identity construction in a global city context. This multidimensional
approach avoids a narrow ethnic lens, instead foregrounding how
interactions in diverse spaces shape migrants’ lived realities and
identity negotiations. Additionally, contributors place these
experiences in wider sociopolitical and transnational contexts,
emphasizing the impact of local and global factors on identity
development.
Each chapter in Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration in
Global London focuses on a specific migrant group’s experience, using
it as a foundation to explore broader questions about identity and
placemaking in London. Rather than adopting a narrow ethnic lens, this
book examines how migrants negotiate identities in diverse spaces,
such as workplaces, schools, streets, neighborhoods, and cultural or
religious organizations, through interactions with individuals from
both similar and different ethnic backgrounds. Political and social
forces operating at both national and international levels influence
these negotiations.
In the introductory chapter, the editors frame the book as an
interdisciplinary endeavor bridging migration studies, urban
linguistics, and cultural studies. The editors propose London as a
global hub, where the convergence of migration, cities, and languages
provides a fertile ground for examining identity formation in
multilingual and multicultural contexts.
In addition to the introduction, the editors, Cangbai Wang and Terry
Lamb, curated the book Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration
in Global London into three distinct parts, each addressing different
aspects of the interplay between migration, language, and identity.
The book provides orientation by grouping the chapters into thematic
sections, each of which explores the specific dimensions of migrant
experience.
The first section (pp. 29–98), titled ‘Metrolingual Space: Cultural
Translation, Language Ideologies, and Diasporic Identities in a Global
City, comprises three chapters that delve into how multilingual
practices and language ideologies shape identity negotiation and
cultural translation within London’s globalized framework.
The second section (pp. 101–186), titled “Performative Space:
Visualizing, Sounding, and Acting Identities in a Transnational
Field,’ includes four chapters that investigate how migrants use art,
performance, and community rituals as tools for expressing their
identities in transnational contexts.
The third section (pp. 198–289), titled ‘Heritagization Space:
Collecting, Remembering, and Transmitting the Past for a Shared
Future,’ features four chapters focused on how migrant communities
engage in heritagization—preserving and transmitting their histories
and cultural memories to future generations.
This volume thoroughly examines the mechanisms through which migrants
negotiate their linguistic and cultural identities within London’s
dynamic and diverse urban landscape. Rather than viewing cities as
static containers of migrant life, the book portrays London as a
vibrant "contact zone" and a transnational space of ongoing
interactions between cultures, languages, and ideas. This aligns with
theories of urban space as practiced and shaped through everyday
encounters, rather than fixed physical boundaries.
The development of Multicultural London English (MLE) illustrates this
adaptability, where various ethnic influences merge to form flexible
linguistic styles that disrupt conventional dialects (Kerswill, 2022;
Fox & Torgersen, 2018). Similarly, Hall's (2015) framework of urban
spaces—symbolic, collective, and intimate—highlights the
multidimensional nature of migrant experience. For instance, Chapter 3
explores how French university students construct their identities as
young adults through interactions in intimate spaces, such as student
accommodation and associational environments. Chapter 5 examines the
collective space of theaters where the Congolese community celebrates
Black beauty, while Chapter 6 delves into the intimate gatherings of
British Chinese women. Additionally, Chapter 7 illustrates the
symbolic resonance of Trafalgar Square during the annual Chinese New
Year celebrations, which bring together local and international
audiences. These examples demonstrate how urban spaces serve as
platforms for cultural negotiation, fostering a dynamic interplay
between the global and local and shaping the city’s linguistic and
cultural identity.
Moreover, the historical backdrop of postcolonial immigration
transformed London into a super-diverse metropolis, cultivating a
pluralistic paradigm that permits ethnic communities to preserve their
languages and identities (Pardo, 2018). This intricate interplay
between mobility, language, and identity is imperative for
comprehending the multifaceted nature of urban existence in London.
Consequently, the city evolves into not only a melting pot of cultures
but also a vibrant tapestry wherein novel forms of expression
materialize, mirroring the lived realities of its residents.
London, a prominent global metropolis, has historically acted as a
nexus for various populations, cultures, and ideologies originating
from all corners of the globe. Despite an array of studies
concentrating on particular immigrant groups within London and the
wider UK, there is a conspicuous deficiency in research on the
interaction between mobility, urban settings, and linguistic practices
across diverse migrant communities in London. The book aims to fill
this research void by compiling contextualized and pioneering studies
that cover a wide range of London's immigrant demographics.
This book adopts a multi-scalar approach to explore how migrant
practices unfold in different urban spaces. Hall’s (2015)
categorization of urban space into symbolic, collective, and intimate
dimensions forms this analysis. Examples include symbolic spaces such
as Trafalgar Square (Chapter 7) and war memorials tied to British
imperial history (Chapter 9), collective spaces such as Hackney high
streets (Chapter 10) and Brick Lane mosques (Chapter 8), and intimate
spaces such as student accommodations (Chapter 3) and classrooms
(Chapter 4). Collectively, these spaces demonstrate how migrant
encounters and the connections they establish between London and other
global locations shape diversity.
Key themes that organize the volume include the role of language in
shaping migrant identities, the challenges and opportunities of
multilingualism, and the sociopolitical context of migration in
London. The editors gathered diverse contributors, each offering
unique perspectives that enhance the understanding of the subject. By
adopting this multi-scalar perspective, this book provides a nuanced
exploration of how migrants navigate and reshape the city’s urban
fabric, contributing to its cultural and linguistic diversity.
Having delineated the thematic organization and the richly varied
content of 'Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration in Global
London,' it becomes clear how the editors and contributors
collectively unravel the complexities of migrant experiences in
London. This investigation through the lenses of metrolingual,
performative, and heritagization spaces not only expands our
understanding of language and identity in migration contexts but also
establishes a foundation for more comprehensive analysis. The diverse
case studies and interdisciplinary approach adopted in the book offer
fertile ground for assessing its contribution to existing scholarship
on migration, language, and identity. As we transition from
summarizing its contents to evaluating its impact, it is imperative to
consider how effectively these insights bridge theoretical concepts
with the lived realities of migrants, thereby enriching our
understanding and challenging prevailing narratives.
EVALUATION
A major advantage of Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration
in Global London lies in its interdisciplinary perspective, which
incorporates insights from sociolinguistics, anthropology, and
migration studies. This diversity enriches the analysis and offers a
more comprehensive perspective. This book effectively combines
theoretical concepts with practical case studies, making it accessible
to both scholars and practitioners. A particularly engaging section
investigates how migrants use language to navigate their identities
within unfamiliar cultural settings. The case studies emphasize the
adaptable nature of identity as migrants adjust to and challenge
linguistic norms in their new societies, highlighting their agency and
challenging oversimplified narratives prevalent in public discussions
about migration.
This book explores the effects of language policies on migrant
populations, emphasizing how language can serve as both a tool and an
obstacle in accessing services, education, and job opportunities. It
also addresses the tension between maintaining heritage languages and
acquiring the host nation’s predominant language. This dual focus on
individual agency and structural constraints underscores the
multifaceted nature of migrant experience.
Additionally, the volume adopts a multiscalar approach to explore how
migrant practices unfold in different urban spaces. Hall’s (2015)
categorization of urban space into symbolic, collective, and intimate
dimensions informs the analysis. Examples include symbolic spaces like
Trafalgar Square (Chapter 7) and war memorials tied to British
imperial history (Chapter 9); collective spaces such as Hackney high
streets (Chapter 10) and Brick Lane mosques (Chapter 8); and intimate
spaces like student accommodations (Chapter 3) and classrooms (Chapter
4). Collectively, these spaces demonstrate how migrants' encounters
and the connections they establish between London and other global
locations shape diversity.
The book's emphasis on how local and global factors interact in
shaping migrant identities enhances its interdisciplinary approach.
Its emphasis on transnationalism and multi-site urban practices
distinguishes it from other works in the field. This volume, by
highlighting the active role migrants play in shaping the cities they
inhabit, goes beyond static views of urban spaces. However, the
diversity of the perspectives presented can sometimes dilute the
coherence of overarching arguments. For instance, while the analysis
of specific spaces is compelling, some chapters could benefit from
deeper cross-referencing in order to draw clearer connections between
the symbolic, collective, and intimate dimensions of urban space.
The book’s critical stance on methodological nationalism and its
embrace of a transnational approach make it a valuable resource for
understanding the complexities of migration, language, and identity in
global cities. Despite some inconsistencies in cohesion, this volume
makes a significant contribution to the fields of migration studies
and sociolinguistics, offering valuable insights into the experiences
of migrants in London and the interplay between language and
migration. This serves as a vital resource for researchers, students,
and policymakers interested in these subjects.
In conclusion, Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration in
Global London is an insightful anthology that significantly deepens
our understanding of migration and linguistic identity in a global
metropolis. Its interdisciplinary scope and critical engagement with
transnationalism offer a compelling framework for studying how
migrants navigate and reshape urban spaces. Although a wide range of
topics and perspectives can feel overwhelming at times, this diversity
makes the volume very compelling, offering multiple entry points to
explore the complex interplay of language, migration, and identity.
Distinctive Features
A unique aspect of Negotiating Identities, Language, and Migration in
Global London is its interdisciplinary perspective on the intricate
connections among migration, urban environments, and languages. To
combine ideas from applied linguistics, performativity, and critical
heritage studies, the authors and editors used the term "languaging,"
which refers to the changing, everyday ways that people and groups use
language to make sense of things and communicate. They broadly view
'language' as encompassing practices that enable individuals and
communities to communicate.
Three distinct 'language spaces' organize the book: the metrolingual
space, where cultural translation reflects identities; the
performative space, where migrants utilize art to convey a sense of
belonging and pursue empowerment; and the heritagization space,
emphasizing the importance of recalling and passing on diasporic
history. These spaces are fluid and interconnected, promoting identity
negotiation and generating new opportunities for the future through
languaging. By emphasizing these dimensions, the book highlights the
interdependent relationship between migrants and cities, underscoring
how urban environments shape migrant identities, while migrants, in
turn, influence the urban landscape. Through daily interactions at the
intersection of the global and local realms, migrants and cities
perpetually affect one another.
The book adopts a transnational lens, moving beyond “methodological
nationalism,” which confines analyses to nation-state boundaries.
Rather, it scrutinizes the construction of migrant identities within
wider global and historical networks. Canagarajah's (2017) argument
that mobility, contact, and diversity construct homes and spaces
resonates with this perspective. For example, Chapter 4 examines how
the Alevi Kurds constructed a new ethno-religious identity within the
context of local politics in Britain and the nationalist movement in
Turkey. Similarly, Chapter 12 delves into how political movements in
Colombia influence Latino women's museum practices in London,
simultaneously shaping gender politics at home.
The theme of heritage also emerges prominently in this book. The
British Empire's colonial legacy embedded the heritage practices of
Indian communities in London, as discussed in Chapter 9. These
practices reflect the intertwined histories of migrants and Britain,
exemplified by the war memorial near the Wellington Arch (Chapter 9)
and the heritagization of festivals such as the Chinese New Year
(Chapter 7). Such examples highlight how migrants’ heritage-making
processes engage with both their host country’s narratives and their
own cultural histories, thus creating layered and dynamic forms of
identity.
This work aims to bridge previously isolated research on various
migrant populations, foster scholarly dialogue between academic
researchers and migrant communities, and establish a foundation for
interdisciplinary and comparative analyses of migrants in London and
beyond. In doing so, the book provides a thorough and nuanced insight
into the intricate dynamics of play in one of the most diverse cities
globally.
REFERENCES
Fox, S. & Torgersen, E. (2018). The study focuses on language change
and innovation in London, specifically in the context of Multicultural
London English. Sociolinguistics in England, 189-213.
Hall, S. M. (2015). Super-diverse street: a ‘trans-ethnography’ across
migrant localities. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 38 (1). pp. 22-37. ISSN
0141-9870. DOI:10.1080/01419870.2013.858175.
Kerswill, P. (2022). United Kingdom: Multicultural London English. In
Urban Contact Dialects and Language Change (pp. 282-299). Routledge.
Pardo, F. (2018). London, a global city and “superdiversity.”
Challenging the Paradoxes of Integration Policies: Latin Americans in
the European City, 47-54.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Ibtissem Smari is a researcher specializing in applied linguistics,
multilingualism, and sociolinguistics, with a focus on North Africa.
She completed her PhD in Linguistics at the University of Pannonia,
Hungary, where her research explored the intersections of language,
culture, and identity. Ibtissem has a transdisciplinary approach that
integrates the influence of language policy, pedagogy, and social
media on communication. Her academic background includes a BA in
English Language, Literature, and Civilization from the University of
Monastir, Tunisia, and the University of Deusto, Spain, as well as an
MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Pannonia.



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