You Can't Fix What Isn't Broken: Reframing Heritage Bilingualism Research and Practice Beyond Monolingual Baselines

Online lecture by Dr. Alicia Luque (Universidad Nebrija, Madrid)

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM EDT
Online Location

We live in an inherently diverse bi/multilingual world, yet traditional research within the language and cognitive sciences, as well as societal attitudes, often cling to monolingual norms as the ideal standard. These norms shape how we characterize language trajectories and outcomes, perpetuating inaccurate and harmful views about bilingualism, particularly concerning language development, processing, and use among bilingual speakers. This issue is notably pronounced in the context of heritage bilingualism, where reliance on monolingual frameworks and benchmarks frequently marginalizes and misrepresents the experiences of bilinguals from minoritized and racialized communities. Such frameworks not only fail to capture the richness and dynamic nature of their linguistic practices but also risk reinforcing systemic biases that exclude or diminish their lived experiences. Furthermore, these monolingual approaches often overlook the intersecting identities of heritage bilinguals—such as their cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds—leading to an inaccurate and biased understanding of how these identities influence and shape their linguistic practices, resulting in an inaccurate and biased representation of heritage bilingual experiences.

This talk will draw on research findings to demonstrate that bilingualism is not simply the sum of two monolinguals. It will emphasize the need for research methods and pedagogical practices that honor the complex interplay of diverse and dynamic linguistic practices and intersecting identities of heritage bilingual speakers. We will explore the ongoing shift towards more inclusive and ecologically valid approaches that better reflect the real-world experiences of  heritage bilingual individuals. As researchers and educators, we have a crucial role in supporting this shift and promoting practices that enhance academic understanding while fostering greater equity and inclusivity. This effort is vital for ensuring that the linguistic and cultural identities of heritage bilingual speakers are acknowledged, respected, and empowered.

  

 

 

Hosted by The Spanish Graduate Program.

Sponsored by The Department of Modern and Classical Languages.