Ultralingualism

Name: Ultralingualism
Price: 190 AUD
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ISBN: 9781350444584

The Disassociation of Language from Meaning

Andrey Rosowsky

$190

Hardback

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English

Bloomsbury Academic
05 March 2026

Sociolinguistics; Literacy; Bilingualism & multilingualism

This book offers an introduction to the commonly observed, but generally ignored or misrepresented, practice of using language when referential (semantic) meaning is problematic, partial or even absent.

The concept and term ‘ultralingualism’ accounts for language performance or use where meaning in the conventional sense lies elsewhere to, or beyond (ultra-), the performer and/or the listener/audience. This book argues for the adoption of the term ‘ultralingualism’ as an important and previously absent heuristic as a means of capturing the diverse language practices where this language phenomenon occurs.

The book adopts a dynamic and inter-disciplinary theoretical framework that encompasses a range of complementary approaches: linguistic sound or the ‘sonic’ element of language (real and invented), non-semantic/non-referential language usage, post-vernacular performance, Bauman’s heightened performance theory, the ethics of translation, theories linking language and music, and language maintenance and shift theory.

The author presents a range of contexts where ultralingualism can be found including in religious, musical, multilingual literacy, academic, artistic/creative (including popular music) and language revival settings. He shares multifaceted data that illustrate how and why ultralingualism manifests itself in diverse contexts, including interview data; field notes from a number of observations of both live and online ultralingual performances; questionnaire data surveying and documentary exemplifying educational ultralingualism; a review of related literature; personal communications; and analyses of digital texts featuring ultralingualism (including YouTube performances and their BTL comments), and argues that despite the absence of referential meaning, meaning-making still occurs.

By: Andrey Rosowsky
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 238mm, Width: 162mm, Spine: 24mm
Weight: 720g
ISBN: 9781350444584
ISBN 10: 1350444588
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 05 March 2026
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Andrey Rosowsky is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield, UK.

Reviews for Ultralingualism: The Disassociation of Language from Meaning

This book invites us to consider the relationship between language and meaning in a new light. In taking us through a variety of scenarios where meaning might be situated with either the producer of language, the receiver of language, or neither of them, Rosowsky shines a light on communicative practices that are of both historical and, in today’s ever-increasingly globalised world, current and future importance. * Sabine Little, University of Sheffield, UK * This timely book insists that disassociation from semantics need not mean communicative failure. By proposing ‘ultralingualism’ as an integrating term, Rosowsky captures diverse practices and recenters analysis on the locus of reference. A precise, generous framework for understanding ritual, sound, and learning. * Adrian Lundberg, Malmö University, Sweden * This book will change how we understand the nature of sacred languages. Rosowsky’s argument develops an incredible momentum as he articulates key aspectual linkages between such seemingly disparate phenomena as Qur'anic recitation, the Latin Mass, Eurovision competition, opera, graffiti, and Star Wars. Students of religion can learn much here. * Brian P. Bennett, Professor and Chair Niagara University, USA *