This panel welcomes critical approaches of inequality, seen as both a social construct and an inevitable phenomenon. When defined as a perception, inequality appears to be an interpretative tool used in an effort to reconcile diversity and social order. It conveys ethics, moral values, a sense of (in)justice. In parallel, it evokes social differenciation therefore identification. This engenders given forms of otherness and social exclusion. Oceania’s linguistic landscapes stage these two understandings of inequality within a unique setting of social heterogeneity. Linguistic diversity however, particularly in postcolonial contexts, comes with a history of monolingual ideologies. Contributors are invited to question various forms of (socio)linguistic inequalities through cross-disciplinary perspectives e.g. comparative linguistics, sociolinguistics, anthropology, history, political sciences, language didactics, arts, visual studies, ethnomusicology. When multilingualism brings together “endangered” and “globalised” languages, what do systemic comparisons reveal? What can we learn from situated experiences of institutionalised inequalities? How do inclusive pedagogies apply when it comes to already hegemonic languages within diglossic contexts? What do the ongoing dialogues between language didactics and arts have to offer against (socio)linguistic inequalities? Beyond being characteristic of Oceania, can linguistic diversity become the common practice of its institutions?
Paper submissions are closed