Diversity and transcultural flows in Computer-Mediated Communication: Exploring digital language and literacy repertories in English as a Multilingual Franca

Online learning and virtual learning have been the mainstay before, during, and after the COVD-19 pandemic. Languaging in technology is characterized by remixing, online multilingualism, and so on. Technology appears to be foregrounding communication and the situated use of languages rather than the traditional focus on a decontextualized ‘language’ or standard variety. This is creating a context for cultural unification through language development. There are very few studies that focus on digital language and literacy repertoires of university students, and their influences on English as a Lingua Franca and online multilingualism in the Global South. The focus on Technology-Mediated Communication has potential for the study of 21st century languaging, and cultural practices. The following questions inform the study:

1. How are multiple linguistic and semiotic resources intersecting with multilingualism during communication in online contexts in the Global South?
2. What are the sociolinguistic and socio-pragmatic norms in these online interactions?
3. What are the implications for English as a multilingual Franca?

Data comes from online surveys, and techno-biographic narratives. The study uses interactional sociolinguistics and Computer-Mediated Discourse analysis as methods of analyzing data. The findings indicate that intercultural communication (through copy and paste, sharing, and other social media practices) and languaging is shaping sociocultural practices, linguistic diversity and language development amongst a group of students learning English through online teaching and learning in Higher Education. Students reveal that the use of languages and diversity is shaped by technologies and that even when they use the technologies, students still index particular cultural identities associated with a mother tongue and English as a Lingua Franca. Transculturation is part of the socio-pragmatic processes of English as a Multilingua Franca. Therefore, it is argued that language policy and language teaching are undertheorized and lacking in informing technolinguistic practices and digital literacy repertoires.

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