Translingual Practices in Digital Environments: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study of Russian-Speaking Ethnic Korean Community

Authors

  • Jinsil Jang

    Division of Language Arts and General Education, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung-si 25457, Republic of Korea
  • Youngjoo Yi

    Foreign, Second and Multilingual Language Education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i6.7640
Received: 30 October 2024 | Revised: 9 November 2024 | Accepted: 11 November 2024 | Published Online: 10 December 2024

Abstract

This five-year longitudinal study examines Russian-speaking ethnic Korean community members’ translingual practices in digital environments drawing upon the concept of translingualism. This study aims to investigate the pivotal role of the migrants’ online translingual practices in their daily lives and social integration in South Korea. For this study, data was collected from multiple sources and inductively analyzed. The findings reveal that during the initial settlement in South Korea, Russian-speaking ethnic Korean migrants (called Koryoin) predominantly used the Russian language in online (and offline) interactions as their local practices were mainly centered within the Koryoin community. However, as the migrants immersed themselves into various communities, they had slowly more engaged in translingual practices by switching between and mixing languages (Russian and Korean) for meaningful digital communication. Their translingual practices in digital environments enabled individuals to (1) situate and access resources within a broader online spatial context, (2) (re)build social relationships with other local community members, and (3) challenge social inequality in a host country (Korea). This study underscores the transformative potential of digital translingual practices, which appear to facilitate the (re)allocation of social status within their community and the (re)shaping of their language use. These findings suggest valuable implications for research and pedagogy for marginalized communities around the world.

Keywords:

Online Translingual Practices; Migrants; Socio-Spatial Repertoires

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How to Cite

Jang, J., & Yi, Y. (2024). Translingual Practices in Digital Environments: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study of Russian-Speaking Ethnic Korean Community. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 6(6), 605–622. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v6i6.7640

Issue

Vol. 6 , Iss. 6 (December 2024)

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Article

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Copyright © 2024 Moussa Diagne Faye, Vini Yves Bernadin Loyara, Amadou Keita, Mamadou Diop, Angelbert Chabi Biaou, Mahamadou Koita, Hamma Yacouba

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