<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This paper mobilises posthumanism as a way to theorise and articulate what <italic>language(s)/languaging</italic> may be for nonhuman animals. This is investigated via various concepts brought together: we turn to the ontological turn in anthropology to expand on what language is, or might be, amongst humans, and then discuss <italic>Umwelt</italic> and <italic>languaging</italic> as two possible modes of exploring ontologies and biosemiosis among nonhumans. The dialogue between posthumanism and biosemiosis is so far absent in the field of critical language studies. The aim, thus, is to contribute to the nascent field of posthumanist applied linguistics by tentatively linking discrete fields of enquiry for a productive exchange across disciplines, and to further the discussion of how nonhuman language is (or may be) ontologised.</p>
</abstract>

This paper mobilises posthumanism as a way to theorise and articulate what language(s)/languaging may be for nonhuman animals. This is investigated via various concepts brought together: we turn to the ontological turn in anthropology to expand on what language is, or might be, amongst humans, and then discuss Umwelt and languaging as two possible modes of exploring ontologies and biosemiosis among nonhumans. The dialogue between posthumanism and biosemiosis is so far absent in the field of critical language studies. The aim, thus, is to contribute to the nascent field of posthumanist applied linguistics by tentatively linking discrete fields of enquiry for a productive exchange across disciplines, and to further the discussion of how nonhuman language is (or may be) ontologised.

Can nonhumans speak? Languaging and worlds in posthumanist applied linguistics

eugeniademuro@researchstrategiesaustralia.com

Linguistic Frontiers

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Can nonhumans speak? Languaging and worlds in posthumanist applied linguistics"}

This paper mobilises posthumanism as a way to theorise and articulate what language(s)/languaging may be for nonhuman animals. This is investigated via various...

Can nonhumans speak? Languaging and worlds in posthumanist applied linguistics

Published Online: Oct 26, 2023

Page range: 92 - 105

Received: Feb 01, 2023

Accepted: Apr 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lf-2023-0015

Keywords
language(s)/languaging, posthumanism, Umwelt, Uexküll, Maturana and Varela, languaging

© 2023 Eugenia Demuro et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Can nonhumans speak? Languaging and worlds in posthumanist applied linguistics

Published Online: Oct 26, 2023

Page range: 92 - 105

Received: Feb 01, 2023

Accepted: Apr 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lf-2023-0015

Keywordslanguage(s)/languaging, posthumanism, Umwelt, Uexküll, Maturana and Varela, languaging

© 2023 Eugenia Demuro et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
language(s)/languaging, posthumanism, Umwelt, Uexküll, Maturana and Varela, languaging