Investigating language diversity, belonging and cultures of resistance

With globalisation, English has become the ‘world language’. However, thousands of diverse languages and cultures live on, influencing and reflecting diverse ways of thinking, interacting and being in the world. Linguistic and cultural diversity reaches across time too.

We bring together linguists, sociologists, communication researchers, Islamic studies scholars and cultural experts to investigate language diversity, different ways of belonging, and cultures of resistance. Our work takes place in diverse environments—urban environments, rural and regional locations, online spaces—and considers the complexities of intercultural interaction and lifestyle politics.

Theme leaders: Professor Cliff Goddard and Professor Andy Bennett

ARC DECRA

Social scientist and writer Dr Adele Pavlidis was awarded an ARC DECRA in 2018 for her project 'Contesting Australian Sport Culture: Women and the Rise of Contact Sport' worth $332,907. This project seeks to generate new knowledge in the area of feminist theory, cultural theory, and sport management. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced capacity of contact sports to include and support women's participation through policies and practices that work towards gender equality and long-term sustainability.

ARC projects

Goddard C, Ye Z, Vanhatalo U, Bullock D. 'The building blocks of meaning: a linguistic approach'. ARC-DP210100658 (2021-2024). Total funding amount $342,761

Balfour, M., Moyle, W., Cooke, M. and Dunn, J. ‘Playful engagement and dementia: assessing the efficacy of applied theatre practices for people with dementia in residential aged care facilities’. ARC-LP120100194 (2012–2015). Total amount funding $200,000.

Docherty, G., & Foulkes, P. ‘The social dynamics of language: a study of phonological variation and change in West Australian English’. ARC-DP130104275 (2013–2015). Total funding amount $320,000.

Woodward, I., & Skrbis, Z. ‘Cosmopolitan encounters in contemporary Australia’. ARCDP130100283 (2013–2016). Total funding amount $404,478.

Bennett A, Baker S. 'Popular music and cultural memory: Localised popular music histories and their significance for national music industries'.  ARC-DP1092910 (2010-2014). Total funding amount $390,093

Other external grants and funding

Guerra, P., Bennett, A., Moreira, T., Quintela, P., Abreu, P., Santos Silva, A. (2016) ‘Under Connected. On and offline Luso Brazilian music scenes’. Transnational cooperation Contest of Bilateral Agreements (Portugal and Brazil. Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Portugal) and Coordination of Improvement Higher Education Personnel CAPES (Brazil). (Total funding amount €10.000,00).

Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM)

The NSM approach is based on evidence that there is a small core of basic, universal meanings, known as semantic primes, which can be expressed by words or other linguistic expressions in all languages. The method has applications in intercultural communication, lexicography (dictionary making), language teaching, the study of child language acquisition, legal semantics, and other areas.

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Get in touch with the Centre for Social and Cultural Research