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Descolonizando Decolonizing Linguistics, or the Perils of Refusing Pero no Mucho: Decolonizing Linguistics, edited by Anne H. Charity Hudley, Christine Mallinson and Mary Bucholtz, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024. 488 pp. $115.00. ISBN: 9780197755259

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Title: Descolonizando Decolonizing Linguistics, or the Perils of Refusing Pero no Mucho: Decolonizing Linguistics, edited by Anne H. Charity Hudley, Christine Mallinson and Mary Bucholtz, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024. 488 pp. $115.00. ISBN: 9780197755259
Authors: Borba, Rodrigo1 (AUTHOR) rodrigoborba@letras.ufrj.br
Source: Journal of Sociolinguistics. Apr2026, Vol. 30 Issue 2, p198-206. 9p.
Subject Terms: Decolonization, Grassroots movements, Postcolonialism, Neocolonialism
Abstract (English): This critical review of Decolonizing Linguistics situates the volume within South American debates on descolonização/descolonización to examine the limits of contemporary decolonial discourse in Anglophone linguistics. Drawing on Cusicanqui's critique of decoloniality and Bispo's notion of contracolonialismo, I argue that the volume (and, more broadly, linguistics as a field) often performs what I call quasi‐refusals: speech acts that promise radical transformation while remaining institutionally domesticated by colonial infrastructures of academic visibility, authorship and citation. To this end, the review traces the tensions between situated, community‐centred practices of descolonização/descolonización and the institutional logics that tame radical refusal. Grounded on this critique, I contend that transforming linguistics requires opposing these contradictions upfront and thickening forms of collaborative, plurilingual, community‐grounded knowledge‐making that can move beyond nonperformative decolonial rhetoric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): Resumen: Esta reseña crítica de Decolonizing Linguistics sitúa el volumen en los debates sudamericanos sobre la descolonización para cuestionar los límites del discurso decolonial contemporáneo en la lingüística anglófona. Basándome en la crítica de Cusicanqui a la decolonialidad y en la noción de contracolonialismo de Bispo, sostengo que el volumen (y, en términos más generales, la lingüística como campo) a menudo lleva a cabo lo que yo denomino cuasi‐rechazos: hechos de habla que prometen transformaciones radicales, pero que siguen estructuralmente domesticadas por las infraestructuras coloniales de la visibilidad académica, autoría y citación. Con este fin, la reseña traza las tensiones entre las prácticas descolonizadoras situadas y centradas en la comunidad y las lógicas institucionales que domestican el rechazo radical. Basándome en mi crítica de los cuasi‐rechazos, sostengo que, para transformar verdaderamente la lingüística, es necesario afrontar estas contradicciones y reforzar las formas colaborativas, plurilingües y basadas en la comunidad de creación de conocimiento que vayan más allá de la retórica decolonial no performativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Portuguese): Resumo: Esta resenha crítica de Decolonizing Linguistics situa o volume nos debates sul‐americanos sobre descolonização para examinar os limites do discurso decolonial contemporâneo na linguística anglófona. Mobilizando a crítica de Cusicanqui à decolonialidade e a noção de contracolonialismo de Bispo, argumento que o volume (e, de modo mais amplo, a linguística enquanto campo) frequentemente produz aquilo que denomino quasi‐recusas: atos de fala que prometem transformações radicais, mas permanecem estruturalmente domesticados por infraestruturas coloniais de visibilidade acadêmica, autoria e citação. A resenha traça as tensões entre práticas situadas e comunitárias de descolonização e as lógicas institucionais que domesticam a recusa radical. Ancorado na crítica às quasi‐recusas, sustento que transformar efetivamente a linguística exige confrontar essas contradições e adensar formas de produção de conhecimento colaborativas, plurilíngues e situadas na comunidade, capazes de ir além da retórica decolonial não performativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
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Abstract:This critical review of Decolonizing Linguistics situates the volume within South American debates on descolonização/descolonización to examine the limits of contemporary decolonial discourse in Anglophone linguistics. Drawing on Cusicanqui's critique of decoloniality and Bispo's notion of contracolonialismo, I argue that the volume (and, more broadly, linguistics as a field) often performs what I call quasi‐refusals: speech acts that promise radical transformation while remaining institutionally domesticated by colonial infrastructures of academic visibility, authorship and citation. To this end, the review traces the tensions between situated, community‐centred practices of descolonização/descolonización and the institutional logics that tame radical refusal. Grounded on this critique, I contend that transforming linguistics requires opposing these contradictions upfront and thickening forms of collaborative, plurilingual, community‐grounded knowledge‐making that can move beyond nonperformative decolonial rhetoric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:13606441
DOI:10.1111/josl.70019