Multilingualism, Identity, and Language Ideologies: Insights from the globale°-Polyphonie Cooperation

Abstract

The article examines the interplay between multilingualism, identity, and language ideologies in contemporary German-language literature through the cooperation between the globale° festival for border-crossing literature (Bremen) and the research network Polyphonie (Universities of Genoa and Catania). Bringing together artistic practice and academic inquiry, the paper explores how multilingual authors writing in German engage with questions of agency, belonging, and linguistic attitudes in times of political and cultural transformation. Drawing on qualitative analyses of biographical interviews with selected authors, it discusses how linguistic experiences and ideologies manifest in literary and personal narratives, particularly in contexts marked by transnational and geopolitical tensions. The contribution aims to highlight the potential of cross-disciplinary collaborations to deepen our understanding of the ethical, affective, and creative dimensions of multilingual writing.