Translanguaging in an academic setting

• Main Authors: Shah, Mujahid, Pillai, Stefanie, Sinayah, Malarvizhi
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2019
• Subjects: LB2300 Higher Education; P Philology. Linguistics; PM Hyperborean, Indian, and Artificial languages
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/23488/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2019.05.001

Pakistan is home to diverse multilingual practices. However, these practices have not been extensively explored. This paper unpacks the interactive practices of a group of students in a university in Pakistan from the perspective of translanguaging. In particular, the paper examines the languages students use in informal class discussions in a university setting and explores their motivations for using different languages within this setting. Data collected through observations, video-recording and semi-structured interviews were ethnographically analysed. The findings indicate that although the Medium of Instruction at the university is English, the students displayed unconscious use of translanguaging in their discussions of mainly English and Pashto (their native language), and some Urdu (the national language). © 2019 Elsevier B.V.