Kirjahaku

This book offers an introduction to the commonly observed, but generally ignored or misrepresented, practice of using language when referential (semantic) meaning is problematic, partial or even absent.The concept and term ‘ultralingualism’ accounts for language performance or use where meaning in the conventional sense lies elsewhere to, or beyond (ultra-), the performer and/or the listener/audience. This book argues for the adoption of the term ‘ultralingualism’ as an important and previously absent heuristic as a means of capturing the diverse language practices where this language phenomenon occurs.The book adopts a dynamic and inter-disciplinary theoretical framework that encompasses a range of complementary approaches: linguistic sound or the ‘sonic’ element of language (real and invented), non-semantic/non-referential language usage, post-vernacular performance, Bauman’s heightened performance theory, the ethics of translation, theories linking language and music, and language maintenance and shift theory.The author presents a range of contexts where ultralingualism can be found including in religious, musical, multilingual literacy, academic, artistic/creative (including popular music) and language revival settings. He shares multifaceted data that illustrate how and why ultralingualism manifests itself in diverse contexts, including interview data; field notes from a number of observations of both live and online ultralingual performances; questionnaire data surveying and documentary exemplifying educational ultralingualism; a review of related literature; personal communications; and analyses of digital texts featuring ultralingualism (including YouTube performances and their BTL comments), and argues that despite the absence of referential meaning, meaning-making still occurs.

This book examines the wide range of multilingual devotional performances engaged in by young Muslims in the UK today. It evaluates the contemporary mosque school in the UK and contrasts this with practices from the past and with prevailing discourses (both political and other) which suggest that such institutions are problematic. It also challenges the highly-politicised and mediatised discourse which suggests that linguistic diversity presents a threat to the privileging of monolingualism in the UK. Finally, it argues for the usefulness of the term ‘ultralingual’ when analysing the multilingual devotional language performances of these young people.

This ethnographic study investigates for the first time in any significant depth the literacy practices associated with the religion of Islam as they are shaped, lived and experienced within a typical multilingual Muslim community in the United Kingdom. It seeks to counterbalance prevailing views on such practices which have often been misinformed, misrepresented and misunderstood. Making liberal recourse to the words, views and lives of its participants, this book describes, explores and celebrates liturgical literacy as a major contributor to group and individual cultural, linguistic and religious identities. In a political and social climate often inimical to religious practices in general, and to Islamic ones in particular, this book highlights the centrality and significance of such literacy practices to minority ethno-religious communities in their daily lives.