Coloniality of Narratives and the Decolonial Potential of Language - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Coloniality of Narratives and the Decolonial Potential of Language Andrea Nadal IAS: Global Studies concentration Faculty Advisor: Margaret Griesse University of Washington, Tacoma

Case Studies  America  Experience Growing up Second Generation  Brazil  Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil - Urban Terena Tribe  South Africa  Cape Town / Philippi, South Africa - Chrysalis Academy

Theoretical Frameworks  Border studies  Gloria E. Anzaldu ́ a  Languaging  Walter Mignolo

Second Generation I am of Puerto Rican and Anglo Descent: • My father came to America from Puerto Rico • in grade school. Learned English after coming to America • My mother is White American • Only speaks English • Image Description: My brother and I in Puerto Rico, the only time I have set foot on the Archipelago. Age 12.

Urban Terena Tribe Urban Reservation: • Figuratively and literally at the • border Physical Border: • Situated within a Brazilian • town Border between languages: • Image Description: Painting in the Reservation: community area of the Reservation. • Terena Language • Town: • Portuguese •

Chrysalis Academy Job Skill Training Academy: • Border between Languages & Culture • – Home & Academy Home: IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Afrikaans • Connection to family & • culture, as well as history Academy: English • Image Description: Staff from the Movement, free of a burden of • Academy and my Study Abroad history group on Introduction day for the students. On this day all of the staff wears the uniform as a show of solidarity.

Solution  Language does not need to be attached to a particular geographical space, it does not need to belong to a single people  We can begin to decolonize languages in this way  There is power in subversion, and in claiming one’s positionality  Create Language as your own, in spite of its history or origin