Decoloniality in Multilingual University Spaces

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This Element explores multilingual university spaces and decoloniality, critically examining how coloniality and neoliberalism intersect. While neoliberal language policies aim to equip students with English as a 'lingua academia', critical issues relating to students' translingual identities and belonging are often overlooked. Empirical data are shared from a linguistic landscape study involving a walking ethnography of a university educationscape in the United Arab Emirates, whereby Emirati students share insights on signage and spaces as 'intertextual products' connected to (un)belonging. Data are analysed through thematic and nexus analysis with main themes including the dominance of English, imbalanced bilingualism, bottom-up translanguaging, everyday nationalism, and sticky places and objects. Findings are discussed in relation to the study setting and other global contexts. The Element closes with practical suggestions on decolonising action relevant to a range of multilingual university spaces and future research directions.