Full Description
The impact of globalisation is increasingly evident through both mass migration and the social, political, and economic changes that have produced new and growing social divides. The increased mobility and the opening of national borders that have arisen as part of these changes has also meant a rise in the diversification of migration (superdiversity) in all its forms. The multi-sited flows of people have also led to the flow of knowledge, culture, and languages. English - as a global language - has taken on a prominent role in the neoliberal discourses of commodification, value and distinction, and the role of language in the reproduction of social inequalities.
This edited volume explores a range of issues related to the role of language. In particular, it addresses competency in English and multilingualism, both of which facilitate success for skilled migrants in the workplace and enable them to contribute to development efforts in their home communities. In more general terms, the book looks at the communicative competencies and language resources which skilled migrants require in order to engage productively in professional and development endeavours. It examines the notion that English is the linguistic capital for skilled migration, given its global status in higher education, development, and professional communication. This book was originally published as a special issue of Globalisation, Societies and Education.
Contents
Introduction: Skilled migration and global English 1. Misplaced: language, remitting and development practice among Zimbabwean migrants 2. Deskilling and delanguaging African migrants in Barcelona: pathways of labour market incorporation and the value of 'global' English 3. Local villages and global networks: the language and migration experiences of African skilled migrant academics 4. Academics across borders: narratives of linguistic capital, language competence and communication strategies 5. Neoliberal governmentality and Canadian migrant language training policies 6. English: its role as the language of comity in an employment programme for Canadian immigrants
