Translanguaging as transnational spaces: Chinese visiting scholars' language practices on WeChat

摘要

This study examines the language practices of Chinese visiting scholars on WeChat and explores the representational meanings of their translanguaging practices. An ethnographic approach combining with systematic observation, WeChat screenshot data and interviews with Chinese visiting scholars is adopted to get hold of the richness of situated meanings and indexicalities of varied semiotic resources. It is found that translanguaging is often deployed by Chinese visiting scholars during their stay in the host country and it has the following functions: intertextuality of the local voice, construction of identities as language learners and global citizens, and fulfilment as ethnic messengers and cultural brokers. The results indicate that with the many translanguaging practices, Chinese visiting scholars interact with their friends, colleagues and acquaintances back in China, the invisible superintendent from Chinese government and voices of the host country in the transnational spaces. By conceptualising translanguaging (multilingualism) as transnational spaces instead of 'global discourse' [Veum, A., & Undrum, L. V. M. (2018). The selfie as a global discourse. Discourse and Society, 29(1), 86-103. doi:], I argue that translanguaging is not merely linguistic issues, but concomitant with social, cultural and political issues.