Translating identities : cultural and linguistic mediation within the Colombian community in Malta

Abstract

The present study analyses the experience of Colombian migrants in Malta in regards communication in a multilingual environment determined by Spanish, English and Maltese. Rather than approaching communication as a purely linguistic process, the present research understands it as a social and cultural practice through which identity is expressed, negotiated and how this study proves it, transformed. The central argument is that what Colombian migrants do in their everyday interactions goes beyond language learning and/or cultural adaptation; it is a form of cultural translation, in which meaning is continuously mediated across languages and social/cultural settings. The study emphasises in a combination of theoretical frameworks, including Hofstede's cultural dimensions, Hall's high- and low-context communication theory, Li Wei's concept of translanguaging, Communication Accommodation Theory and the concept of linguistic and cultural mediation developed by Carreras i Goicoechea and Pérez Vázquez. All theories together enable research that analyses how cultural values also influence communication and the dynamic, social nature of everyday language use in a migration environment. A qualitative approach was also implemented, combining a semi-structured online survey completed by 30 Colombians residing in Malta and a focus group discussion with three participants. The findings of this study demonstrate that language use is based on contextual situations, with Spanish representing language as an identity mediator for Colombians, English as the main tool for professional and intercultural relationships, and Maltese entering participants' vocabulary gradually through social exposure. Also, as demonstrated in the data collection phase, code-switching is a central feature of Colombians' everyday communicative practices, determined by group dynamics as well as social motivations. Moreover, communication challenges can be both cultural and linguistic wise, depending on individual reasons, and participants are actively mediating in their own interactions through a variety of strategies explained through the research. Most significantly in this study, it was found that the influence of Maltese goes beyond English, but also impacts Spanish’s participants, calling for a process that affects the whole communicative repertoire of a person rather than a single language. Furthermore, this study contributes to translation studies by demonstrating that cultural translation is present in everyday life, not only in professional or literary contexts as it was traditionally believed, and that the Colombian community in Malta represents a rich and underexplored case to understand how language, identity, culture and meaning are understood in a multilingual migration setting like Malta.