The summary of ‘Alastair Pennycook’

Professor Chris Chaney Severo introduces a collaborative online academic project organized by Arborlon Association Brazil, featuring Professor Alistair Pennycook as the keynote speaker. Pennycook discusses the challenges of online teaching and introduces the concept of total speech situations and semiotic landscapes. The video delves into the complex dynamics of language and communication, exploring themes of multilingualism, language diversity, and social practices in multicultural environments. The speakers emphasize reevaluating traditional boundaries in language studies, considering inclusive definitions of communication. They touch on topics such as colonial linguistic settlement, language diversity in urban settings, nonverbal communication, and the significance of objects in human actions. The discussion also extends to the importance of multimodal perspectives in linguistics and challenges of recognizing economic redistribution alongside issues of recognition and social justice. They stress the need for continued engagement in meaningful conversations addressing critical social issues.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, Professor Chris Chaney Severo introduces the online academic project organized by Arborlon Association Brazil, in collaboration with international partners. He acknowledges the effort put in by various linguistic associations worldwide. He then introduces Professor Alistair Pennycook as the keynote speaker, highlighting his expertise in critical applied linguistics and social linguistic studies. Professor Pennycook discusses the challenges of online teaching and presents his talk titled “From Speaking to Semiosis in Search of the Saucer Linguistic Comprehensiveness.” He explores the concept of the total speech situation, iterated speech acts, and the expansion of social linguistics scope. Professor Pennycook references scholars such as J.L. Austin, Judith Butler, and Michael Silverstein in his discussion.

00:10:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the unstable relation between different elements of linguistic facts. They mention the concept of multimodal total semiotic fact, which involves looking beyond traditional language boundaries to understand the complexity of language in society. The idea of semiotic landscapes, which focus on the production of locality, is introduced. The discussion then shifts to the modern colonial linguistic settlement, questioning how language has been historically restricted to the mind and excluding the body, animals, and other elements. The speaker suggests that rethinking these traditional boundaries is crucial, especially in the context of posthumanism which challenges the notion that language solely distinguishes humans from animals. The importance of reevaluating traditional definitions of language is emphasized to reflect a more inclusive understanding of communication.

00:20:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the concept of language and its components, delving into the works of social critic Hymes despite his controversial history. The speaker offers a framework that expands on Hymes’ model of social linguistics, introducing their own semiotic landscape framework. They draw on the Metro lingual project to explore language diversity in urban settings, emphasizing the ordinary nature of multilingualism. The speaker also examines everyday simultaneous interactions, such as communication through mobile phones, in spatially entangled contexts like corner stores. They highlight the social and linguistic dynamics at play in these multicultural spaces.

00:30:00

In this segment, the speaker discusses their research on Bangladeshi-owned stores, particularly focusing on a store in Tokyo. They mention their interest in multilingualism and cultural diversity in these stores. The transcript describes an interaction between a customer and shop assistants, emphasizing the importance of fish in Bangladeshi culinary practices. The store is located in a diverse area attracting customers for various products like halal food and SIM cards. Social relations, cultural backgrounds, and language use play significant roles in these interactions. The segment also highlights a conversation among customers questioning the ethnicity of the store owners. The speaker concludes by outlining the complex social dynamics and identity considerations within these multicultural contexts.

00:40:00

In this part of the video, the transcript discusses an interesting moment in a shop where workers from Uzbekistan identify themselves through a banknote. This segment delves into changing visa regulations in Japan, attracting workers from different countries. The discussion involves linguistic and cultural implications, the importance of emotions and senses in social sciences, a critique of discourse studies related to material and immaterial worlds, and the impact of mobility in attracting diverse customers to the store, showcasing specific examples like the diverse products attracting customers from various backgrounds. The segment also touches upon the concept of social practice and the significance of repeated social activities in shaping social life.

00:50:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses social practices, focusing on language as a social practice and the importance of objects in interactions. A scenario is described where a customer is trying to buy chicken while the shop assistant is more interested in a cricket game. The concept of assemblages is introduced, emphasizing the role of objects in human actions. The significance of fish in Bangladeshi stores is highlighted, showing how they bring people together and have linguistic implications. The linguistic resources in the store, including code-switching and translanguaging, are also discussed. Lastly, the importance of nonverbal communication, gestures, and posture in social interactions is emphasized.

01:00:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of nonverbal communication in social interactions, focusing on semiotic resources and spatial repertoires. They mention Gumperz’s work on linguistic forms, as well as the concept of spatial repertoires in understanding community and individual linguistic resources. The speaker also touches on the idea of assemblages in developing a post-neoliberal society and rethinking redistribution and recognition in social justice. Additionally, they talk about the complexity of language in broader social and political relations. The segment ends with the speaker addressing audience questions about epistemological differences in language study approaches and the relationship between multimodality and semiotic landscapes.

01:10:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the concepts of multimodal, trans-modal, and multi-sensorial perspectives in linguistics, emphasizing the importance of integrating various sensory modalities for a comprehensive understanding of space, history, and memory. The discussion extends to the integrationism debate within linguistics, with the speaker acknowledging the productivity of integrationist work while also highlighting the need to avoid narrowing definitions and borders. Additionally, the speaker announces upcoming linguistic conferences and addresses questions related to power relations, colonialism, and the study of totality in applied linguistics.

01:20:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the concept of totality and exclusion in research, emphasizing the challenge of inclusion and exclusion when defining parameters. They explore the difficulty in framing language perspectives from a Southern viewpoint, particularly in relation to language revitalization and indigenous perspectives. The speaker highlights the importance of understanding language in connection to the land and different nonverbal forms of communication. The discussion also touches on the significance of considering different perspectives in linguistics, such as those from the global South, including indigenous people. There is a mention of the complexity of language reclaimation and the need for broader ways of thinking about language. The audience and other academic contributors inquire about the somatic domain, emotional engagement, body language, and the use of language in analyzing soundscapes and smell escapes. The speaker notes the interconnectedness of somatic, affective, and sensorial aspects in communication practices, emphasizing the challenge of separating these components when studying semiotic processes.

01:30:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the connection between language and body language, emphasizing the importance of sign language and its distinction from gestures. They highlight the complexity of communication in sign language and the need to learn from it. Additionally, the challenges of describing smells and the limited vocabulary in English for discussing smells are explored. The significance of smell in memory recall and emotional behavior is also noted. The speaker mentions the difficulty in incorporating smells into research and the limitations in discussing them. The transcript touches on the importance of considering smells in the broader context of multi-sensor reality.Finally, there is a brief mention of questions about semiotic policy and the relationship between politics and semiosis, acknowledging the complexities of language policy and the essence of language practices.

01:40:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the debates around recognition and redistribution, emphasizing the need to avoid overlooking the importance of economic redistribution despite the focus on recognition. The speaker suggests reframing the relationship between recognition and redistribution, touching upon new materialism and ways to think politically about redistribution. They highlight the ongoing significance of issues like economic inequality and racism, cautioning against getting sidetracked by debates on statues and recognition that detract from critical social issues. The speaker concludes with gratitude and a call for continued engagement in meaningful conversations.