Linguistic Hegemony, Marginalization, and Migration Scholarship. A View from the Francophone World
摘要
This chapter addresses a specific facet of power dynamics in the realm of migration academia—the exercise of symbolic violence and intellectual dominance through language and linguistic proficiency. Central questions arise concerning the current identity of migration scholars: who speaks as a migration scholar today? In what language do migration scholars articulate their ideas? Is migration scholarship confined to the Anglophone sphere, or can it extend beyond these boundaries? If so, how can these challenges be effectively navigated and mitigated? I initially highlight the limitations inherent in prevailing cartographies within the field of migration studies, which have disregarded the linguistic diversity embedded in migration scholarship. Subsequently, I advocate for a more reflexive approach toward addressing linguistic hegemony within the realm of migration scholarship. Following this, I expound upon the peculiarities of the French context within migration scholarship, delineating its uneasy and paradoxical status as a former core and a contemporary periphery, and examining its interconnections with other French-speaking contexts, particularly those in the Global South. Finally, I elucidate the rationale behind the necessity to cultivate a multilingual framework for migration scholarship, while deliberating on potential strategies to foster the emergence of new voices and languages.