Monolingual cringe and ideologies of English: Anglophone migrants to Luxembourg draw their experiences in a multilingual society

This article uses reflective drawing to explore representations of multilingualism by Anglophone migrants in Luxembourg. Analysing twelve interviews which participants drew and described their language experiences, we examine the ideologies adopt response English they encounter. Participants various ideologies, sometimes aligning with ideology global English, counter-ideologies resistance it, a mix two. Visual features indexing affective states include colour, gesture, facial expression, composition. Monolingual cringe – expressed as shame, embarrassment being ‘bad at languages’ performs several functions for participants. Sometimes it serves an disclaimer, allowing them lean on privilege more socially acceptable way. appears express genuine distress, form searing linguistic insecurity. distancing function, enabling oppose themselves stereotype monolingual speaker. The intensity drawings suggests does have costs migrants. Fundamentally, though, reinforces privilege, apologise monolingualism even continue benefit from it.