Linguistic Justice Research Project and Training Integrative Course
The Linguistic Justice Research Project and Training Integrative Course is a training on how to carry on a research project. For this edition, the subject area is linguistic justice.
English-based linguistic justice goes beyond the communication between native and non-native English speakers and distributes them on a spectrum of English proficiency, which can be affected by different socioeconomic factors. The unprecedented spread of English as a global language presents a situation of what van Parijs (2002, p. 59) defines as ‘asymmetric bilingualism’ or linguistic injustice, where non-native English speakers learn English without native English speakers’ reciprocating efforts to make the communication through English as a shared medium possible at the global scale.
Linguistic injustice has implications in three aspects, that is, unequal access to resources, unequal communicative cost, and threatened parity of esteem (van Parijs 2002). Studying linguistic justice in relation to Englishes in the world contributes to understanding non-native English speakers’ struggles at various levels and exploring ways of empowering those who are linguistically disadvantageous or marginalised at different degrees to make the world more inclusive and diversity-tolerant.
The course integrates a research project, which investigates linguistic (in)justice in communities where non-native English speakers learn and use English in response to the global spread of this language into the production and consumption of knowledge, technology, culture, and wealth.
The research involves the analysis of policy documents and the adoption of questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups, all of which contribute to quantitative and qualitative understanding of non-native English speakers’ experiences and discourses of English-related activities, such as educational, social, and professional activities.
Learning objectives
After the completion of this research project, participants are expected to:
- Obtain advanced skills in:
- Critical reading and thinking
- Research report writing
- Independent study
- Collaborative work
- Group discussion and presentation
- Have a consolidated knowledge of linguistic justice and Englishes
- Comprehend theoretical constructs of language policy, practice and ideology
- Develop the awareness of research ethics
- Familiarise the process of research project from literature review through research design to reporting research findings
- Gain research insights and practice research tools
- Enrich life experience by exploring the field of Nairobi, Kenya
After the completion of this research project, participants are expected to:
- Advance skills in:
- Critical reading and thinking
- Research report writing
- Independent study
- Collaborative work
- Group discussion and presentation
- Build up the knowledge of linguistic justice and Englishes
- Comprehend theoretical constructs of language policy, practice and ideology
- Develop the awareness of research ethics
- Enrich life experience by exploring the field of Nairobi, Kenya
- Familiarise the process of research project from literature review through research design to reporting research findings
- Gain research insights and practice research tools
Ying Wang will be the training co-lead together with UNITAR staff, and research project lead.
Dr. Wang is a Lecturer in Modern Languages and Linguistics at the University of Southampton, having extensive experience of supervising research projects at doctoral and master levels. Her specialisation is in language ideologies, language policy, English as a global language, and English education. She has recently completed a research project on linguistic justice in English medium instruction in Chinese higher education.
She has published various articles and a monograph entitled Language ideologies in a globalising world: orientations to English as a lingua franca (with De Gruyter Mouton 2020). She convenes as well lectures at the University of Southampton, such as Language ideologies in a globalising world (LING6042), Multilingualism (LING2009), English as a global language (LING6014), and From English to Englishes (LING1002). More information can be found at this page.
The 3-months course will be structured as follows:
Week 1 – Research project overview & Theoretical underpinnings of the research – part 1
Week 2 – Theoretical underpinnings of the research – part 2
Week 3 – Methodology
Week 4 – Experience from previous research
Week 5 – Week 7 Research design, Field work, guidance through and feedback on data collection
Week 8 – Data analysis: policy documents and questionnaire
Week 9 – Data analysis: observation
Week 10 – Data analysis: interviews
Week 11 – Data analysis: focus groups
Week 12 – Report writing and assignment submission
Participants will learn through a range of activities, including:
- Independent readings (to be completed outside the teaching hours);
- Guided reading (commented during the online lectures and seminars)
- Lectures, seminars, and workshops (online)
- Five (5) days fieldwork in Nairobi, Kenya (optional)
- Group report writing
In order to ensure adherence to quality standards of the training, registration will be closed after twelve (12) participants. Allocation of slots will be on a selection basis after submission of a curriculum vitae (CV) that should highlight prior knowledge, academic and professional experience and personal research interests.
At the end of the Linguistic Justice Research Project each participant will be awarded a UNITAR certificate of completion.
UNITAR welcomes a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, as well as different degrees of experience.
The Linguistic Justice Research Project is open to university students, postgraduates and professors, as well as all applicants wishing to build up knowledge and skills related to applied linguistics, sociolinguistics justice, equality and fairness, who are interested in Englishes as both a sociolinguistic phenomenon and a theoretical construct, who would like to learn or re-view up-to-date research methods, and who are motivated to engage with initiatives of the UN Agenda, namely on inclusivity and diversity-tolerance.
UNITAR will be responsible for the overall design, coordination and implementation of the Linguistic Justice Research Program. The Institute will liaise with participants on a regular basis prior to the activity's implementation in order to ensure a smooth and flawless organization for everyone involved.
The participants are responsible to ensure they are in possession of the basic necessary hardware, software and connectivity to engage in online training activities, such as:
- Stable internet connection
- Speakers and a microphone
- A webcam or HD webcam, or a HD cam or HD camcorder with video capture card
UNITAR will not provide refunds for participants who face technical issues beyond UNITAR's direct control. UNITAR recommends that all prospective participants test Zoom for free at Zoom.us prior to confirming their payment.
Two core readings are recommended to participants to read before the beginning of the training:
van Parijs, P. (2011). Linguistic justice for Europe and for the world. Oxford University Press.
Wang, Y. (2020). Language Ideologies in the Chinese Context: orientations to English as a lingua franca. De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501503702