Translanguaging practices and metalinguistic reflection during negotiation of meaning in tandem virtual exchanges

Abstract

Earlier studies exploring translanguaging in virtual exchanges (Walker, 2018; Zheng et al., 2017) have mainly focused on identifying translanguaging in written chats to analyze discursive aspects and feedback processes. However, tandem virtual exchanges provide the possibility of analyzing the negotiation of meaning of linguistic aspects from the perspective of plurilingual practices, such as translanguaging, which have not yet been investigated in these contexts. The present study examines the role that the linguistic repertoires of the learners play in learner-learner interactions in tandem virtual exchanges between college-students at a Canadian and a Spanish university. Eighteen learners interacted online while carrying out oral collaborative tasks where they negotiated and co-created meaning in their respective target languages. In these interactions, the entire linguistic repertoires of the learners scaffolded the conversations and contributed to mutual understanding. Translanguaging practices occurred mostly in inquiries and explanations about linguistic aspects where metalinguistic reflection played an important role.

Keywords

• Online oral interaction
• Task-based language learning (TBLL)
• Negotiation of meaning
• Metalinguistic reflection
• Synchronous computer-mediated communication