IRMALA SUKENDRA (UNIVERSITAS ISLAM SYEKH YUSUF TANGERANG)
ANNA DA SILVA (Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia)

A CASE STUDY OF TRANSLANGUAGING IN FANFICTION AS A MEANS TO ASSIGN IDENTITY : PLURILINGUALISM AND TRANSLANGUAGING

Identity is inseparable as in translanguaging a person demonstrates how meshing code enables them to project their identities as a translingual. In fan fiction, the authors, as fans, created the characters based on the idols. The characteristics of these idols are suited to the storyline in accordance to the author’s desire and expectation. The identity projected through translanguaging adapts Richards and Wilson’s theory on transidentitying (2019), Canagarajah’s (2015) and Lee and Canagarajah’s (2019) theory on translanguaging and identity. This study aims to find out what does translanguaging contribute to projecting identities of the characters as the idols’ personas. In this study, I draw on constructs in literacy, cultural and media studies as theoretical bases for examining how networked ICTs and fan culture provide an individual with a site for shaping their identities and their characters’ identities through analyzing the language use. It is found that the assigning of identity in fan fiction was done to negotiate meaning which become means to project both the author and the idols’ identities. Translanguaging was used to suit certain communities in their online interactions to be a part of the circle in their space which comprises of sub culture groups.

The author is a full time lecturer and an avid user of social media. As part of BTS' army, she enjoys interacting with other fans and this influences her research interest. Other interests include language and culture, language testing, and ESL.

Dr Anna M da Silva is a tenured lecturer in Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta (Faculty of Education and Languages). Her research interests include Linguistic Landscape, English for Specific Purposes, and Reflective Teaching. Her work has been published in national and international journals such as Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, TEFLIN Journal, and Wacana Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia.