This book presents the findings of an in-depth qualitative longitudinal investigation into the willingness to communicate (WTC) of individuals who, through varying migration channels, left one cultural/linguistic context to make a new life in another. It examines communication behaviours and language choice in multilingual community contexts and emphasises how even the most trivial of communication events are embedded in histories of previous communication and are influenced by emotions connected with a person's overall life situation. The book fills a gap in contemporary WTC research by examining how WTC operates in multilingual community contexts. Through the use of a complexity lens and the presentation of a revised 3D pyramid model, the authors demonstrate the dynamic nature of WTC and shed new light on processes that affect communication, migration and well-being. This book will be of interest to researchers seeking to explore individual differences using context sensitive and temporally focused designs.

Foreword. Jean-Marc Dewaele

Part 1. The WTC Construct and the Research Frontier

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. The Pyramid Model, and the Dynamic Turn in WTC Research

Part 2. The Research Project

Chapter 3. Language Choice and Willingness to Communicate in a Swedish Context

Chapter 4. The Project Design and the Research Process

Chapter 5. The Participants  

Part 3. Stories of Interactions in Community Contexts

Chapter 6. Developmental Dynamics: Kesu, Maria, and Jessie   

Chapter 7. Linguistic Self-Efficacy and Communication Willingness: Wafaa

Chapter 8. Willingness to Communicate and the Challenges of Tied Migration: Olivia and Titly

Chapter 9. Willingness to Communicate and Translanguaging Ideologies: Pranisha and Sabrina

Part 4. Syntheses, Conceptualizations, and Ethics

Chapter 10. At a Specific Time, With a Specific Person, or Persons, in a L2 (or Mix of Languages).

Chapter 11. Zooming in: Introducing a 3D Model of the WTC Pyramid

Chapter 12. Zooming Out: Locality, and WTC in Community Contexts

Chapter 13. 'The Ethics of Walking Alongside': Ethical Engagement When Studying a Process in Motion

Conclusion

Alastair Henry is Professor of Language Education at Lund University and at University West, Sweden. His research involves the psychology of language learning and teaching, with specific interests in motivation, multilingualism, teacher identities and professional development.

Peter D. MacIntyre is Professor of Psychology at Cape Breton University, Canada. He has published over 100 articles, chapters and books within the field of psychology of language and communication and has received awards for teaching excellence (Atlantic Association of Universities), for contributions to the study of language (the Gardner Award and the Mildenberger Prize) and awards for service to students and the community.