The improvised language of solidarity: Linguistic practices in the participatory labour-organizing processes of multi-ethnic migrant workers
Gabriella Cioce, Marek Korczynski, Davide Però
Human Relations · 2023 · Volume 76 · Issue 12
DOI: 10.1177/00187267221119775
Abstract
There are considerable language barriers facing the potential collective labour organization of multi-ethnic migrant workers. From the research literature, we know little about linguistic practices that might overcome these barriers. Based on an ethnographic study of the participatory organizing of S.I. Cobas multi-ethnic migrant workers in the Italian logistics sector, we point to three linguistic practices that help overcome language barriers – translation, lingua franca and humour. We theorize these three linguistic practices as constituting an ‘improvised language of solidarity’. We argue that an improvised language of solidarity develops from, and can significantly support, participatory organizing.
Keywords
communities of struggle, ethnography, improvised language of solidarity, language, migrant workers, participatory organizing, S.I. Cobas, solidarity
Enable JavaScript for citation tools and additional paper interactions.