Is Translanguaging Universal? A Systematic Review Across Global Language Contexts

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Abstract

This systematic review explores whether translanguaging operates as a universal principle across diverse global language contexts. Drawing on studies from bilingual and multilingual classrooms, we analyze how translanguaging is theorized and enacted across linguistic systems (e.g., alphabetic, logographic) and sociocultural settings. Common practices—such as identity negotiation, conceptual blending, and pedagogical scaffolding—appear across contexts. However, significant variation exists in definitions, implementation, and research representation, particularly within the Global South and non-Western sociolinguistic traditions. These inconsistencies highlight a critical gap: while translanguaging is a global phenomenon, no study has yet confirmed its universality. This review calls for comparative, cross-linguistic research to examine whether a universal translanguaging framework can be established.

Author

• Yueqing Zhong, George Mason University