Shaping a new voice: blending Australian English and heritage languages in second-generation migrant writing

ABSTRACT

With reference to three interviews with prominent second-generation migrant authors in Australia – Alice Pung, Randa Abdel-Fattah, and Benjamin Law – this article examines how English is perceived, used, and claimed in Australia. Perceptions of Australian English have always been traditionally monolingual, despite the current realities of a population of diverse cultures and the explicit use of many languages other than English. The article examines the point of intersection, where English meets heritage language(s), and how this affects and influences the way these specific authors write. Drawing on World Englishes and Canagarajah’s notion of code-meshing, this article also focuses on how the authors’ relationship with English as second-generation Australian migrants can contribute to changing future perceptions of English in Australia.

KEYWORDS:

• Australian English
• second-generation migrants
• perceptions
• language use
• language diversity in Australia

Authorship

The author is the sole contributor of this article, having collected and analysed the data, as well as drafting and revising the intellectual content. The author also submits this manuscript and takes full responsibility for it, accountable for all aspects.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.