How does linguistic indifference masquerade as linguistic resistance?

As we have argued throughout, language is always already political. Nevertheless, collegiate German studies curricula often seem largely indifferent to politics, especially those that complicate or disrupt the notion of as a singular with an indexical relationship nation-states which it associated. However, discourses such described in previous sections on linguistic indifference cultural production and policy are relevant for learners since they reflect societal ideologies may encounter themselves endorse reject. Norman Fairclough writes, “If committed education establishing resources citizenship, critical awareness practices one's speech community entitlement” (6). While citizenship German-speaking country not be horizon most US-based learners, questions about who granted positions legitimacy within disparate body individuals comprise “the community” ought central question education. This requires attention complexity its use but also relationships between power. Such aligns culture emphasizes translingual transcultural competence (see Modern Language Association). The kind envisioning here does more than prepare students ways deemed appropriate conventional; invites them critique political instrumentalizations allows ideological nature studying—the reality languages speak learn complicit Bringschuld, functioning gatekeepers every bit much sources personal enrichment, marketable skillsets, capital global citizenship. purview encourages pedagogies, policies, demand submission engage acts disobedience (Komska et al.). very kinds complaints dubbing Ploschnitzki fan communities earlier this forum can embraced development stance, if recognize complaining bad subtitles act resistance against indifference. Students leaving our classrooms should able explain their non-German-speaking friends what likely missed subtitled film, watch film do understand how involved read leverage understanding pushing back popular discourse around films enable ability interlingual regarded one enduring valuable skills impart German. some will continue years after graduation, while draw knowledge literature professional lives, many others only occasionally studied communication graduation. It reason focus proficiency literary intercultural metalinguistic (Scott). These hope endure all students, even these implicitly learned, discussion represents area where explicitly targeted. note discrepancies spoken hear translations beyond course-taking has potential meaningfully shape communities. To sure, true subtitling errors easily remain empty party quips otherwise obscure novels. Both tend serve way erstwhile foreign validate own others—they understood dialogue, important incidental error establish credibility conversations. behavior quite problematic, both because denigrates labor translators—for consideration complexities involved, see Béhar—and imply interchangeable (Ploschnitzki above). Indeed, existence visible consequences widespread underlying assumption fungibility codes. United States, including critics academics (who typically write though had fact rendered meaning transparent), supports thus promotes Johnston). Yet surely “markers […] pressing matters difference, otherness, translation” (Egoyan Balfour 21). task teacher help way. We must transform recognition into insights badness subtitles, is, inherent insufficiency. make practice, so foremost locus indifference, pop field agree ignore non-identity languages, turn engagement variety human cultures. cannot expect student fluent interpreter Korean film—indeed, making interpreters tall order. teach untranslatability English willingness viewer rather submissive consumer translation. Complaining enables