Running head: Translanguaging and its power

Translanguaging and its Power

Kymberly A. Martinez
University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

Translanguaging is a concept that is used every day. Many do not know that
when mixing two languages is actually a way of showing knowing more than one
language. Translanguaging is not taught but more developed over time. For example in
El Paso most of the population knows English and Spanish. So when talking to
someone from the city they will intertwine these two languages together without really
knowing it. The purpose of this paper is to inform about Translanguaging and show the
benefits of this concept. The first thing this paper will discuss is an explanation of
Translanguaging. Second, it will discuss its positives and negatives and how it has
developed power over certain types of languages. Next it will give in three main points
that have helped developed the main reasoning behind Translanguaging. Finally there
will be a discussion from the writers point of view how it is used in an everyday life.
Keywords: Translanguaging, language, English

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Translanguaging and its Power

Translanguaging has become a concept not everyone knows about, yet it is an

everyday use. When it comes to using this concept it has helped benefit many people to
understand more than one language and giving them a guide to show where they come
from. Communication has changed over the generations, it has been proven that now
communities share a language, although it might be English they are speaking, it will
not be the same English as if going to visit another environment. This happens because
everyone comes from a different culture and this is why Translanguaging is becoming
more known. This paper will discuss an explanation, positives about Translanguaging,
three main points that develop Translanguaging and a discussion from my point of view
on Translanguaging.
What is Translanguaging?
Translanguaging is a concept that is self-taught and many people do not realize
that there is an actual term that was created for the way they talk between two different
cultures. Translanguaging has been defined as, people using more than one language
in conversation, adding phrases from their other languages (JJ Wilson).
Translanguaging is specifically for one or more languages but less than two. The
interest is growing between Translanguaging, now that more people are aware of the
concept is it helps build both languages to become stronger. Especially in a bilingual
class this concept is used to keep the first language firm, but also to strengthen the
second language. When two languages come together it is not only because it is
growing an education, it is showing a sense of personality. By personality, this means
that when a person is speaking both languages together in a conversation, it expresses

Translanguaging and its power

the community they belong to, being a part of a community everyone has their own style
of English. It has been argued that, appropriate English according to the preferred
interest and identities of the speaker is both a condition for gaining voice and also the
most effective way for developing proficiency in that language (S. Canagarajah p.588).
This study proves how Translanguaging forms a person through their own voice, by
using their own voice this shows how they have developed and strengthened both
languages that are being spoken.
What are the positives of Translanguaging?
When it comes to the concept of Translanguaging it includes language and
power. Language and power come together to show how both of these concepts come
together and create a positive. A women named Wonderful was an African American
who saw that something was wrong with the way her peers around her community
spoke. Wonderful stated that her peers spoke, broken English (W. Faison). The reason
she saw that the way they were speaking was broken was because people would judge
the way they spoke and since she was African American people would point it out more
than usual. Wonderful thought that the way they spoke was all wrong and incorrect, until
she went through her path of life learning about English. During her path she realized
she was, oppresin (W. Faison) her own language, the way she talked was an
expression of who she was and where she came from and she saw the way she talked
as a negative. The positives about Translanguaging is that it shows that persons true
identity. English can be spoken in many different ways, in a community or even culture
portrays the meaning of different ways of speaking English. Wonderful stated, If you
caint take the BLACK off my face you sure caint take the BLACK off my tongue. My

Translanguaging and its power

language is ME and I am my language. It lives. It moves. It breathes. To kill my

language is to kill me (W. Faison). When Wonderful came to realize that there was
nothing wrong with the way the way she spoke, it was her true self, it was her peers true
self and this is how Translanguaging has its positives because it reveals someones true
identity.
What is Translingual Approach and its elements?
Translanguaging is a complex concept to truly understand. The reason it is
complex is because there are elements of Translanguaging that are difficult to
understand. In an article called Language Difference in Writing: Toward a Translingual
Approach has put Translanguaging in another perspective listed in elements of
development. Translingual approach is defined as, difference in language not as a
barrier to overcome or as a problem to manage, but as a resource for producing
meaning in writing, speaking, reading and listening (B. Horner, M. Lu, J. Royster, J.
Trimbur p.303). When it comes to speech each person expresses their own opinion in
their own way. These authors put together their ideas and found that Translingual
approach is made up of three elements, (1) honoring the power of all language users to
shape language to specific ends; (2) recognizing the linguistic heterogeneity of all users
of language both within the United States and globally; and (3) directly confronting
English monolingualist expectations by researching and teaching how writers can work
with and against, not simply within, those expectations( B. Horner, M. Lu, J. Royster, J.
Trimbur p.305). According to the first point it is proved that language and power can
overcome and piece of writing because it comes from that one person who puts their
own voice into their own writing. The second point is best explained as around the world

Translanguaging and its power

there are many languages and when bringing together more than one language
together makes a stronger piece of writing. Now the third point is about researching the
languages that are being used in a piece of writing to get a better understanding of the
topic that is being spoken or written about. With these three points Translingual
Approach has helped Translanguaging become more known and has helped improve
writing.
My discussion towards Translanguaging.
Translanguaging is a difficult concept to explain to someone who truly does not
understand. I agree with teaching Translanguaging in a bilingual class, it helps benefit
kids and will help them strengthen both languages. At first the concept confused me, but
then I started seeing it in my everyday life how I use Translanguaging. Since I am a
server at IHOP I have noticed that when I have a conversation with my customers we
mix languages. The conversation will be in English but then we start mixing in Spanish,
because some things in Spanish sound better than in English. Since my job involves
this kind of communication I have noticed that my Spanish has improved.
Translanguaging is a concept that is often used, although in El Paso it is called
Spanglish which is a specific mixture of English and Spanish. Translanguaging has
helped benefit me by helping me with my job and by strengthening my Spanish that will
help me in my professional career.
Translanguaging is a very complex but interesting concept that should be taught
not just in bilingual classes but in other classes. Translanguaging has had its positives
and with its three elements that bring together Translanguaging it is a very strong
element that students should study.

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References

Faison, W. (2014). Reclaiming my Language. Digital Rhetoric Collaborative.

Retrievedon October 16,2014,
fromhttp://www.digitalrhetoriccollaborative.org/2014/10/16/reclaiming-my-language-themiseducation-of-wonderful/
Horner, B. Lu, M. Royster, J.J, Trimbur, J. (2011). Opinion: Language Difference inWriting:
Toward a Translingual Approach. College English. Retrieved on January
2011,fromhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/25790477?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Canagarajah, S. (2006). The Place of World Englishes in Composition: Pluralization
Continued. College Composition and Communication. Retrieved on June 2006,
fromhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/20456910
Wilson, J.J (2015). Translanguaging: q&a. Retrieved on April 28, 2015,
fromhttp://blog.reallyenglish.com/2015/04/28/translanguaging-qa