The Translanguaging Turn and Its Impact

Abstract

This chapter traces the development of a translanguaging theory from its origins in Wales. It draws differences between translanguaging and code-switching, describes it as the discursive norm among bilinguals, and considers the speakers’ construction of a translanguaging space. The chapter also looks at the relationship of translanguaging to Dynamic Systems Theory, to multimodalities and to writing. Finally, the chapter considers the contributions of translanguaging to Linguistics theory and the concept of linguistic creativity. The chapter ends by reviewing concepts and terms that have recently proliferated to emphasize the more fluid language practices of bilingual speakers and to relate and differentiate translanguaging from these.