Dr. Christina Higgins

I am a sociolinguist who is interested in the politics of language, multilingual practices, hybridity theory, and identity. In my research projects, I have drawn on discourse analytic, ethnographic, and qualitative approaches to study various facets of the global spread of English, Swahili sociolinguistics, and second language identities. Geographically, I have focused my research on East Africa, where I have studied language in the workplace, the intersection of popular culture and multilingualism, and HIV/AIDS education sponsored by non-governmental organizations. Much of this work is synthesized in my recent book, English as a Local Language: Post-colonial Identities and Multilingual Practices (Multilingual Matters, 2009).

On December 1, 2009, Language and HIV/AIDS (co-edited with Bonny Norton, Multilingual Matters) became available. This edited volume focuses on the social and discursive construction of local and global knowledge in educational efforts meant to prevent the spread of HIV.

My research in Tanzania also includes a recent study on the intercultural identity development among L2 Swahili speakers.

I have also begun to explore the sociolinguistics of multilingualism and language awareness in Hawai'i through a collaborative videoethnographic project with high school students on the Leeward Coast of O'ahu. Be sure to check out the documentary on youtube Ha Kam Wi Tawk Pidgin Yet? This project includes the development of a Teacher's Guide and an interactive website for language awareness materials on Hawai'i Creole for high school language arts and social studies classrooms.

I teach graduate level courses in sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, global English, intercultural communication, and qualitative research methodology.